Perhaps it's because I'm a Public Health student, or a young, blind liberal, or a godless heathen, but I think it's because I'm a self-respecting woman that I have been feeling a lot of outrage lately over the kinds of policies and debate that have been surrounding women and their reproductive rights. Now, you guys know, I try not to get too political on here, and I'm going to try and put my views succinctly. Also know that my intention is not to tread on any toes, nor to impose my beliefs on anyone else, but to spark healthy,
good-natured discussion and to get those with similar views to help take action. Again, as always, thanks for bearing with me.
What Joe Biden said in last night's vice presidential debate, I think, is something I've been waiting to hear (in point-blank terms) from policy-makers for a long time.
"My religion defines who I am and I've been a practicing Catholic my whole life. And has particularly informed my social doctrine ... With regard to abortion, I accept my church's position on abortion as a doctrine. Life begins at conception in the church's judgment. I accept it in my personal life. But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews, and I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the congressman. I do not believe that we have a right to tell women they can't control their body."
I don't want to get into if that makes him a Catholic in-name-only or anything about religion or pro-choice vs. pro-life, but I want to highlight that he believes it is the decision of a woman and her doctor, what is best for her health (physical and mental and social) and the health of her family. And I find it absurd and dehumanizing to have this right to decide what is best for my own health being slowly ripped from my grasp. Organizations like Planned Parenthood aren't only for abortions, they also provide a multitude of services for men and women that are important, even absolutely critical for healthy relationships, family planning, and success. These include information about birth control and family planning counseling (did you know that getting pregnant within 18 months of having a baby increases chances of congenital defects, low birth weight, and poor maternal health outcomes?*), sexual and reproductive education (which, thanks Arizona Dept. of Education, I certainly didn't get in school), and women's wellness exams including mammograms and pap smears. And you know what? We women
need that stuff.
It's not just about abortion, guys. We need to be informed about our reproductive and sexual well-being to be healthy and happy about our bodies and our decisions.
Since I started here, I've met some of the strongest women I've ever known via their blogs, but I know that no matter how strong you are, it's really tough without the right kind of support from your family, friends, community, and government. If you agree with this post, even a little bit, and even if you don't, I urge you to please look into the
Draw The Line campaign and the
Center for Reproductive Rights and how much the policies being enacted in the last year and to come in the next few are affecting women's human rights.
Please.
*Don't just believe me! Here's an article! And another! And one more!
