Stop the handwringing already!
May. 2nd, 2009 11:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jadedmusingsCan we please drop the meme that Emergency Contraception, AKA Plan B, AKA "Morning after pill," allows women to act carelessly and gives them an "easy way out"?
First and foremost, Plan B is not an abortifacient. If there is an embryo present that has already implanted itself in the uterine wall, Plan B will do absolutely diddly squat. Plan B is often confused with RU-486, which is a pill designed to end a pregnancy in the early stages, but Plan B prevents, not ends, pregnancy.
Regardless of what Plan B does, I'm sick of this "easy way out" and "consequence-free sex!" bullshit that gets trotted out everytime this comes up. Plan B doesn't encourage irresponsible sexual behavior, Plan B is responsible sexual behavior.
Let's say a 17 year-old woman has sex with her boyfriend. They've probably been sexually active for a while, or it could be their first time. They've thought ahead and had condoms on hand. They have sex and the condom breaks. If she and her boyfriend drive down to the 24-hour pharmacy and purchase a dose of Plan B, she will be preventing a pregnancy she most likely cannot emotionally, financially, and sometimes physically afford. She may love her boyfriend and may even plan to marry him someday, but not right now because she wants to go to college, trade school, or hell, maybe she wants to go into the military. Or maybe she just wanted to have sex with someone she liked and doesn't care if she ever sees again. Whatever, the point is that a baby is not in the plans and it could really damage her life plans. She is making sure that she can follow her dreams, and she's also keeping her boyfriend/sexual partner from having to alter his life to accomodate a child as well.* That is, say it with me now, responsible sexual behavior. It also has a chance to lower the number of unintended pregnancies, and maybe bring down the teen pregnancy rate. Isn't that what you're clamoring for in the first damn place?
Yeah, yeah, the wages of sex is childbirth. Women need to face the consequences, nevermind that there are two people involved in making a baby, and the male half's consequences are never on the same level as a woman faces, even if he's a fine upstanding man willing to be a parent. Yes, I've heard that before and think it is complete and utter bullshit. There is nothing wrong with being a sexually active woman. There is no shame in women enjoying sex and even (gasp!) seeking out as many sexual partners as they want. Nevermind that you're also discounting the fact that maybe the woman was raped and won't report it for whatever reason (maybe because she fears people, especially the authorities, will question the veracity of her story, and gee, I can't imagine why that might happen). Shouldn't she be allowed safe access to Plan B? Oh right, I forget that in Bizarro World, the only women who want Plan B are sluts who will take Plan B after every single sexual encounter, or teenagers will have sex parties where they snort Plan B and get off on how many fetuses they've magically aborted...or something.
Look, even if having sex was something she'll regret, why give her the added burden of a child she doesn't want/can't afford/will change her life? Telling them not to have sex obviously hasn't worked for us. Why don't we grow up and realize that water is wet and teens will have sex?
* = Though, let's be honest here. If he wants nothing to do with the child, his life won't be nearly as severely impacted as hers should she choose to continue the pregnancy.
First and foremost, Plan B is not an abortifacient. If there is an embryo present that has already implanted itself in the uterine wall, Plan B will do absolutely diddly squat. Plan B is often confused with RU-486, which is a pill designed to end a pregnancy in the early stages, but Plan B prevents, not ends, pregnancy.
Regardless of what Plan B does, I'm sick of this "easy way out" and "consequence-free sex!" bullshit that gets trotted out everytime this comes up. Plan B doesn't encourage irresponsible sexual behavior, Plan B is responsible sexual behavior.
Let's say a 17 year-old woman has sex with her boyfriend. They've probably been sexually active for a while, or it could be their first time. They've thought ahead and had condoms on hand. They have sex and the condom breaks. If she and her boyfriend drive down to the 24-hour pharmacy and purchase a dose of Plan B, she will be preventing a pregnancy she most likely cannot emotionally, financially, and sometimes physically afford. She may love her boyfriend and may even plan to marry him someday, but not right now because she wants to go to college, trade school, or hell, maybe she wants to go into the military. Or maybe she just wanted to have sex with someone she liked and doesn't care if she ever sees again. Whatever, the point is that a baby is not in the plans and it could really damage her life plans. She is making sure that she can follow her dreams, and she's also keeping her boyfriend/sexual partner from having to alter his life to accomodate a child as well.* That is, say it with me now, responsible sexual behavior. It also has a chance to lower the number of unintended pregnancies, and maybe bring down the teen pregnancy rate. Isn't that what you're clamoring for in the first damn place?
Yeah, yeah, the wages of sex is childbirth. Women need to face the consequences, nevermind that there are two people involved in making a baby, and the male half's consequences are never on the same level as a woman faces, even if he's a fine upstanding man willing to be a parent. Yes, I've heard that before and think it is complete and utter bullshit. There is nothing wrong with being a sexually active woman. There is no shame in women enjoying sex and even (gasp!) seeking out as many sexual partners as they want. Nevermind that you're also discounting the fact that maybe the woman was raped and won't report it for whatever reason (maybe because she fears people, especially the authorities, will question the veracity of her story, and gee, I can't imagine why that might happen). Shouldn't she be allowed safe access to Plan B? Oh right, I forget that in Bizarro World, the only women who want Plan B are sluts who will take Plan B after every single sexual encounter, or teenagers will have sex parties where they snort Plan B and get off on how many fetuses they've magically aborted...or something.
Look, even if having sex was something she'll regret, why give her the added burden of a child she doesn't want/can't afford/will change her life? Telling them not to have sex obviously hasn't worked for us. Why don't we grow up and realize that water is wet and teens will have sex?
* = Though, let's be honest here. If he wants nothing to do with the child, his life won't be nearly as severely impacted as hers should she choose to continue the pregnancy.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 09:21 pm (UTC)Yes, most people are idiots and can't reason their way out of a wet paper bag.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-04 03:25 pm (UTC)Thanks, I can't remember where I found it, but Toph is always awesome. :)
Yes, most people are idiots and can't reason their way out of a wet paper bag.
And unfortunately, some of those people are idiots with the power to regulate my access to birth control and can hamper my ability to make healthy reproductive choices. :-\