Birth Control Debate

Studies show that the national average for an adolescent’s first sexual intercourse encounter is seventeen years old. Despite this number being very close to the average age in other industrialized countries, the United States holds a higher percentage of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) contraction than those countries (Harper et al, 2010, p. 125). It’s becoming evident that while a majority of the nation’s youth is sexually active, they are not doing so with the appropriate knowledge to keep themselves and others healthy.

Birth control has been a controversial topic since the 1960’s, when the pill arose on the scene and gained popularity. Men and women of certain religious faiths have sought to prevent other women from using birth control. However, most women want to be able to choose when the time is right for them to have a child. This is why birth control is essential, because it allows women and couples in general the freedom to choose and plan their families. In many cases the need to control women by controlling their access to birth control goes all the way to the federal government. The federal government determines what types of birth control are allowed on the market and who has access to them. Some Presidential administrations look more kindly

Before the introduction of modern birth control, gender roles emphasized the responsibility of women to conceive and raise children. Although this began to change in the in the mid-twentieth century, with the introduction of the first hormonal birth control pill, Enovid, taking place in 1960, it was not readily accessible during that time period (Buttar and Seward, 2009, p. 1-3). This did not change during the time period immediately following the introduction either; five years after the introduction of Enovid, there was still controversy surrounding the use of contraceptives. In the Supreme Court case of Griswold v. Connecticut, the legality of birth control on the market was debated, and the case concluded with the allowance of hormonal contraceptives, but it was limited to married couples only under the right of marital privacy (George and Lewis, 2016, p. 1). The controversy and secrecy that surrounded the use of birth control shortly after its introduction indicates that although it was certainly present and used in society during this time period, it still carried the negative social connotations of the past, which prevented it from being socially normalized. In contrast, the standardization of birth control in society took place decades later, from approximately the 1990 to 2010s.

Birth control was illegal in the state of Connecticut until the 1960s. The reasoning behind prohibiting any form of contraception was influenced by Protestant moral reformers as well as middle class women from the1870s. The leader of the purity movement was Anthony Comstock who was a Postal Inspector and responsible for most of the anti contraception laws. Together he worked with other activist and created a social purity movement that assisted to outlaw the ideas of contraception. These activist

"Approximately four million teens get a sexually transmitted disease every year" (Scripps 1). Today’s numbers of sexually active teens differ greatly from that of just a few years ago. Which in return, projects that not only the risk of being infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) has risen, but the actual numbers of those infected rise each year as well. These changes have not gone unnoticed. In fact have produced adaptations as to how society educates its young adults about sex, using special programs, various advertising, and regulating sexual education courses in public schools. One major adaptation is the advancement and availability of

“One of my favorite moments is when a guy, at a certain point in a relationship says something desperately hopeful like, ‘Are you on the pill? ‘ I simply say, ‘No are you?” (Roxane Gay). Back in 1967 trying to terminate a baby was illegal. The only thing they were able to use was condoms to prevent catching any diseases. If anyone were to try and find a way of a form of birth control you would be prosecuted. In 1972 is when they legalized birth control for citizens in the country. Ater legalizing birth control, in the 1990s along came the Depo shot, female condom, Plan B, and more. In 2013 Plan B was a emergency contraceptive that you can get over the counter and no longer needed a doctor's prescription. Birth control is the practice of preventing

Contraception is a critical issue for women of all ages and social class because the decision to have a baby impacts a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Contraception is also very costly and is an expense that a woman primarily shoulders. Not every employer’s health insurance plan provides benefits for prescription contraceptives and devices. A personal survey of 50 adults with varying types of insurance plans, asked if their health insurance plans provided coverage for birth control, Viagra, or abortion. Everyone surveyed maintain that his plan provides coverage for Viagra, a sexual enhancement drug, and abortion. The same survey showed that 26% of the insurance plans do not provide benefits for Food and Drug

The role of educating students about the importance of healthy sexual relationships has fallen hard and fast on public schools. School aged boys and girls are not receiving information from their parents on what decisions they should make in regards to sex. Parents are finding this topic of conversation too taboo to breach and as a result, students are getting what little information they are receiving from school. Less then half of school aged adolescents talk to their parents about sex and abstinence (Smith, 2005).

Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard

Everyone has heard the saying, “history repeats itself”. We’ve seen it time and time again from multiple Stock Market crashes, reasons for starting wars, to even patterns in fashion and music. The debates contraception poses proves to be no exception. While opinions differ from person to person based on their religious beliefs, political standing, and physical health condition, the argument always seems to be whether or not contraception should be easily accessible. This topic has been discussed since the early 1900’s, and is showing no signs of being solved anytime soon. Currently, the argument surrounding birth control is whether or not the government should be providing it at little to no cost for those who cannot afford it. It is hard

Teenage sexual activity has sparked an outcry within the nation. With such activity comes a high price. Studies have shown that there has been a significant rise in the number of children with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological problems, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Sex has always been discussed publically by the media, television shows, music and occasionally by parents and teachers in educational context. Teens hear them, and as the saying goes, “monkey see, monkey do”, they are tempted to experiment with it. Therefore, it is important for every teenager to be aware of the outcome associated with premature-sex. If students are educated about the impact of

Health care and what people are legally allowed to do with their bodies have created controversy galore throughout history. A particular point of debate is the topic of birth control and the government. A dangerous couple, it raises the question of who should have control over contraceptive laws and what controls involving them should be put in place? Currently, under the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act and “Obamacare” have been created. One of the sections of this new plan creates a mandate which requires private businesses to provide insurance that covers birth control costs. The government should not be able to force businesses, and therefore the American people, to pay for birth control via health insurance because it

Are you afraid of becoming pregnant, catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or even both? This is where educators can make a difference and help out not only the community but the younger generations to come. Social trends, public health concerns, politics and various controversies have all, at different times and in different ways, affected the substance and teaching of sex education. Over time, however, one thing has remained consistent: public support for sex education. The most recent national polls show that 93 percent of Americans support “sex or sexuality courses being taught” in high school and 84 percent support such instruction in junior high. (“History of Sex Education”). Sex education should be better funded in schools to reduce teen pregnancy, raise the high school graduate rate, and to help prevent spreading STD’s.

In today’s day and age, teenagers are sexually active even though may not be mentally, emotionally, or financially prepared for the consequences of their actions. Students who are uneducated on sex and what it entails, need to know about the risks and health disparites it can cause. According to Amy S. Hedman PH.D, a professor at Minnesota State University, and author of American Journal of Health Studies claims that, sexually transmitted diseases are one of the most common consequences of unprotected sex and one in four high school students have a STD. (Hedman). It is crucial that students are provided with the opportunity to learn information regarding prevention and detection of STD’s. Not only can the lack of sex education lead to the progression of diseases, pregnancy can occur just as easily. After obtaining research on sex education the African News Service claims that, “Absence of comprehensive sex education has resulted in teen pregnancy”

Coinciding with the onslaught of the new millennium, schools are beginning to realize that the parents are not doing their job when it comes to sexual education. The school system already has classes on sexual education; these classes are based mainly on human anatomy. Most schools do not teach their students about relationships, morals, respect, self-discipline, self-respect, and most importantly contraceptives. Everyday students engage in sexual activity, many of them with out condoms. This simple act jeopardizes these students' futures and possibly their lives. An increasing amount of school systems are starting to combine messages involving abstinence from sexual activity,