Cause and Effect

Elizabeth Johnson
Camilla Lofving
ENGL 100-19
05 December, 2012

Since the birth (no pun intended) of the organization, Planned Parenthood and Family Planning facilities have been encouraging the idea of having a safe and knowledgable sex life. Whether it be STD screenings, access to free or affordable birth control, or counseling, their goal is simple. Planned Parenthood is a safe haven for teens and adults to get answers, help, and support. Now, imagine a country without Planned Parenthood. Dream up a life where women have no access to birth control, and men have no idea whether their strange red bumps are herpes or just a rash. As Victoria Pynchon so eloquently put it, “...I didn’t go to Planned Parenthood with my Advanced Placement girlfriends to have an abortion. I went to Planned Parenthood to avoid having an abortion.” Pynchon wrote an article for Forbes’ online magazine segment called “She Negotiates,” in which she explains the importance of Planned Parenthood in society. She also tells the reader what might have happened had she not taken her sex life into her own hands. At a salary of a whopping $120/month in 1971, motherhood is not an option. So why are these women chastised for taking the responsible route? Pynchon claims, “Defund Planned Parenthood and I guarantee you that you will see Women in Revolt one more time.” As many have heard during the 2012 Presidential election, the Republican party doesn’t care much for Women’s Rights (or health, for that matter). For the most part, Republicans in office have taken stances against Family Planning because of their religious points of view. Those who show a religious aversion to abortion also claim that sex before wedlock is a sin, and rape is sometimes illegitimate. Republicans want to see funding for Planned Parenthood cut primarily to deter abortion. Arizona Senator Jon Kyl makes the bold claim that, “well over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does” is provide abortion services to women. In a fact check, it’s found that Planned Parenthood’s services total at 97% for, “contraception, treatment and tests for sexually transmitted diseases, cancer screenings, and other women’s health services.” This leaves 3% for abortion services. Is anyone out there doing the math? In fact, while math is the topic, Planned Parenthood’s website says this: “For every dollar invested in family planning programs, the government saves $3.74. This is an ideological agenda wrapped in bad policy.” This seems like a no brainer to some, yet Republicans feel differently. Unfortunately, Senator Kyl isn’t the only one making rash statements about what goes on behind the stirrups. Talk radio personalities Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh have made grossly inaccurate claims on the the purpose and services of Planned Parenthood. Limbaugh personally attacked a young woman, Sandra Fluke, who took the initiative to speak in front of Congress on the cost and availability of birth control. Limbaugh, taking offense to the idea that his tax dollars could be used for women’s health, called Fluke a ‘slut’ and a ‘prostitute’, and claimed Fluke demanded the taxpayers, “pay her to have sex.” With all the accusations and misrepresentations of the facility, it’s time for some facts: In 2009, the United States spent exactly .000116% of its budget on Family Planning organizations. While this seems like a minuscule number, it makes for a whopping 34.6% of Planned Parenthood’s operating budget for the same year. It seems that while America spends so little on contraceptive and preventative care, it’s loss would be detrimental to the organization. On the World Health Organization’s website, there’s a facts sheet listing the importance of Family Planning in society. From helping to prevent HIV/AIDS, to reducing adolescent pregnancies, you will see an outlined list of benefits for contraceptive care. If the federal government cuts Family Planning’s funding, teen pregnancy, STD rates, infant mortality, and illegal abortions will make a major spike. With legal abortion rates at an all time low since 2000, why disrupt the progress? The World Health Organization has this to say: “Pregnant adolescents are more likely to have preterm or low birth-weight babies. Babies born to adolescents have higher rates of neonatal mortality. Many adolescent girls who become pregnant have to leave school. This has long-term implications for them as individuals, their families and communities.” It’s clear that by allowing contraceptive care to remain available and affordable in the U.S., we are not only saving lives, but preventing the spread of disease and misinformation (which can sometimes be just as deadly). In a country where we are supposed to keep church and state separate, let’s make an effort to keep women’s (and men’s) health out of government hands. The ability to use a condom before intercourse is much easier than the weighted decision to have an abortion (or apply for government assistance). For the Federal Government to invest one dollar to save three, is much easier than forcing celibacy across America. While this may be a tough pill for some to swallow, women across the country will appreciate the ability to hold on to their Ortho Tri-Cyclen packages without the fear of having to ration their supply.

Works Cited "Budget of the United States Government." U.S. Government Printing Office. N.p., 01 Feb. 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.

Knowles, Jon, Hugh Siegel, and Stuart Schear. "The Promise of Change." Planned Parenthood. N.p., 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.

Mirkinson, Jack. "Rush Limbaugh: Sandra Fluke, Woman Denied Right To Speak At Contraception Hearing, A 'Slut '" Huffington Post. N.p., 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.

"Planned Parenthood Action Center." Women 's Health and the Budget. N.p., 2012. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.

Pynchon, Victoria. "She Negotiates Life Without Planned Parenthood." Forbes. N.p., 04 Aug. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.

Robertson, Lori, and Michael Morse. "Planned Parenthood." FactCheck.org. N.p., 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.

Cited: "Budget of the United States Government." U.S. Government Printing Office. N.p., 01 Feb. 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.  Knowles, Jon, Hugh Siegel, and Stuart Schear. "The Promise of Change." Planned Parenthood. N.p., 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.  Mirkinson, Jack. "Rush Limbaugh: Sandra Fluke, Woman Denied Right To Speak At Contraception Hearing, A 'Slut '" Huffington Post. N.p., 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.  "Planned Parenthood Action Center." Women 's Health and the Budget. N.p., 2012. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.  Pynchon, Victoria. "She Negotiates Life Without Planned Parenthood." Forbes. N.p., 04 Aug. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.  Robertson, Lori, and Michael Morse. "Planned Parenthood." FactCheck.org. N.p., 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.