The image of a table of men — primarily from religious organizations — comprising a hearing devoted to birth control, became a snapshot emblematic of problems to follow. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) asked the obvious question when she inquired incredulously, “Where are the women?”
Attempts by Sandra Fluke, a college student that had hoped to speak about the wide role of birth control medicine in women’s health, had been rebuffed with the statement that she wasn’t “qualified to testify.” She has since been publicly vilified by Rush Limbaugh.
For many, there was confusion about the whole conversation. Religious freedom was being pitted against women’s rights to basic health care. What exactly did it all mean for those of childbearing age?
In August 2011, a panel of experts from the Institute of Medicine had addressed how making contraception available would help impact the high rate of unplanned pregnancy.
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Thanks for your comment Lynda. I was surprised that so many women had no idea what the Blunt Amendment was, and thought that there was an information vacuum.
I also learned a stat that was news to me while researching this piece--which is that 49% of American pregnancies are unplanned.
Obviously, we are doing something wrong.
March 5, 2012 - 1:37pmThis Comment
Great piece Marcia! It's hard to believe that in the 21st Century, some are wanting to take us back to 16th Century. Even though I can no longer have children and don't have to worry about pregnancy, these people scare me. There seems to be no end to someone trying to tell everyone else how to live.
March 5, 2012 - 1:10pm