Mexico City Policy

Mexico City Policy

The Mexico City policy or the “Gag rule” was a policy implemented by the Reagan administration. The policy states that any non-governmental organization or NGO that receives government funding shall not perform or promote abortion services. Throughout history the policy has been revoked and then put back into action depending on what party is elected. The Republican Party seems to implement the policy, while the Democratic Party dismisses it. Republican candidates such as George Bush and Ronald Reagan are all for the policy but, Democrats like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all oppose the policy. The policy is known as a form of neocolonialism. Neocolonialism is the economic and political policies by which a great
power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people. This topic has caused so much confusion in history. Being that this topic can control many variables such as population and unwanted pregnancies this policy is a major issue in our country.

The U.S foreign policy regarding the use of U.S funds for abortions and its promotion date back to 1973.
The Helms amendment was passed in 1973. This amendment prohibits U.S. foreign assistance funds from being used to promote or fund abortions. Ronald Reagan came into office and adopted the policy in 1984 in order to stop counseling about pregnancy options. Reagan also changed the name of the act to Mexico City policy. The intended goal or Manifest function behind this idea is to stop abortions. This goal was intended to control abortions elsewhere since we can’t stop it here in America. The unintended goal or Latent function was that aids rates went up and overpopulation. Neocolonialism is the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people. Many 3rd world countries in Africa and Asia follow the rule of the policy in order to qualify for the American
aid.

Conflict Theory is an idea that articulates the role power and force in producing social order. Conflict theorists believe that we need social inequality in order for our society to thrive. In the eyes of a conflict theorist the Mexico City policy seems about right. The coercion and corruption occurs because the United States threatens to stop giving money to these countries if they disobey the policy. To me this is another form of black male. To make the beliefs about conflict theory true we need a conflict to make uproar in society and this policy did just that. This policy has been debated since before I was even born and it is still a topic of discussion today.

Functionalism is the idea of status quo in society. Everything has a value and place and nothing should be changed. Too much change at one time is good. From the point of view of a Functionalist the Mexico City policy is for them. With this policies intended goal to control abortion, functionalist support this. This policy is a way to control population and to keep society stable outside of America.

The conflict theory and functionalism are both macro level scales when it comes to looking at this topic.
The micro level scale would be the symbolic interaction of this policy. This policy affects the individual more than it affects the group. Symbolic interaction looks at the meaning systems to all issues and things surrounding society. On the micro level the Mexico City policy means that someone in a country supported by America a girl has no say in whether or not she is ready to have a baby because if she is pregnant, she has to have the baby. The only good thing about this policy is that if a girl is raped she doesn’t have a choice to go through with the pregnancy or
not.

I believe that this Policy is clear violation of the people’s rights. In our nation we have the right to freedom. Freedom in whatever it is we want to do whenever we want to do it. With this Policy the Republican Party is taking away the rights of the people in these 3rd world countries. I don’t think it is fair that as a nation we use our power to and resources against these countries to gain control over an issue that we cannot control on our own soil. This topic has been in debate for almost 30 years. As of 2009 the policy has not been in effect due to the party that is in control of the house right now. My guess is when the republicans get another representative in the house, the policy will be reinstated.

Throughout history abortion has been a very confusing and tough topic for many people to state their opinion on. Some people are for it and some are against it. “The Global Gag rule” or “The Mexico City Policy” has been rescinded and now people of NGOs have the freedom of choosing to get an abortion, learn about sex resources, and pregnancy prevention. The U.S should not try and promote abstinence in other countries while in this country they give us the opportunity to learn about birth control and condoms. Choice plays a major role in freedom and since the U.S promotes the idea of freedom so much its only right that they do that upon others and give other countries the opportunity to choose.