Planned Parenthood: A Short Story

Planned Parenthood is a controversial topic sweeping the nation of America with political and moral issues. Every day one could come across a new article on it, stubble upon a news article in their local paper or even on their local news station. Planned Parenthood directly provides reproductive health services, is involved in teach young students about sexual education, contributes to research in reproductive technology, and interacts with legal and political efforts aimed at protecting and developing reproductive rights.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides healthcare and education to both men and women, having over 650 health centers that provide healthcare to countless communities around the world. Shockingly, 78% of those who use Planned Parenthoods services live at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, showing how important this organization is to low-income families (Topulos, Greene, Drazen). Their mission statement is “A Reason for Being”, which is shown through their efforts to provide health care, advocate public policies, create educational programs, and endorse research. There are those who do not believe Planned Parenthood should be funded by the government, though, due to the fact that they provide abortions to women in need. Studies show that the effects of not having Planned Parenthood available are disastrous, causing low-income families to lack a healthcare provider and the number of those who are infected with STD’s and STI’s to rise. The biggest concern communities have about the government defunding Planned Parenthood is the effects that it would have on low-income families who would no longer have access to something that many people take for granted: health care. Although many believe that Planned Parenthood mostly provides abortions, in reality, only 3% of the people that seek help from them receive an abortion, while 97% receive affordable and, in many cases,

During a time in which white supremacy was being challenged by an ever-increasing African population, a woman named Margaret Sanger “sought to purify America’s breeding stock and purge America’s bad stains” (Planned Parenthood). She set out to establish the American Birth Control League, which eventually became the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Sanger’s actions provoked much controversy because at the time not only was contraception illegal in the United States, but it was denounced by almost every major religious denomination (Contraception History). Margaret Sanger set out on a mission to overcome first the church and then the state in order to “stop bringing to

Since taking the reins in 2006, Cecile Richards has spearheaded Planned Parenthood through difficult times to ensure it has emerged better than before.

In document 1, Rollin Lynde Hartt talks about the blacks during the 1920’s. The term Hartt uses is “The New Negro”, and he explains how blacks want their rights and simply don’t care about the segregation process as long as they cut to the chase. The black community is tired of being treated like they don’t belong and they don’t see a reason to continue fighting a losing battle. Soon Marcus Gravey establishes the Universal Negro Improvement Association in Jamaica. Marcus later comes to the United States and tells blacks that it’s time for them to separate themselves from the whites and know where they stand. The blacks had understood that it was a call for them to return to Africa. This is an example of social and cultural division during the 1920’s. The whites saw them as if they were less after all they had fought for and, the whites still managed to be racist even after the 1920’s.

Researching things to find for this assignment was difficult. After thinking about things, a big concern that has been as issue for southeast Iowa is the closing of planned parenthoods. After reading some different articles, the article that seemed to have some noticeable fallacies was, “Closing Of Planned Parenthood clinics a victory for Iowa women” in the Des Moines Register. This article was written by Maggie DeWitte, the executive director Iowans for Life . Although this article is very controversial and effects the people of our community, it has many fallacies within it.

Within a matter of days, tedious discomfort and infinite melancholy transformed into harrowing fears of deprived reproductive rights becoming a reality for Alex Morris. Prior to such feelings of trepidation weighing on her, Morris made the horrific discovery that her unborn child was a miscarriage, and was faced with no other resolution than to have an abortion for the sake of her health. However, the difficult decision of having to abort caused Morris to become increasingly aware of the political agenda against abortion and Planned Parenthood in many states, and how laws against the organization and other clinics of the sort have impacted her and countless other women. In the 2016 Rolling Stone article, "The

American Birth Control League’s name changed to Planned Parenthood, which enabled the organization to encompass a new image and justify funding from the government and wealthy donors (Perry 1). The agency has influenced the birth control of the poor and the upper-class citizens of society. Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, viewed poverty, illness, and strife caused by the fate of being in a large family. She saw small families

baby, and on the other hand people supporting pro-life believe abortion takes the life of

(Wikipedia, Planned Parenthood) These emotions, or pathos, run high around this topic. While women’s health issues are addressed and much good is done within the organization the overpowering emotional outcries come from preforming of abortions. Such as the case that hangs behind Ms. Richards that says, “In Case of Live Baby Break Glass.” This case contains objects that are used in partial birth abortions, again to insight emotions of the reader to visualize the abortion procedure that is considered

California Attorney General Kamala Harris sent agents to raid the home of anti-abortion activist who was behind the undercover videos allegedly showing the sale of fetal tissues by Planned Parenthood.

Today we dare to be scientist, analyst, or philosophers as we attempt further dissect the true meanings behind a photo posted to the Planned Parenthood twitter page. Attach to the photo was the following caption that states that, “Senators Graham & Cassidy are pushing the worst #ACArepeal bill yet. We've rejected every other version of Trumpcare.” Within these few words it is revealed the cause that brought this group of concerned American citizen to the capital. Various people, men and women alike, came out to show their support with pink T-shirts powers and signs in tow as made evident by the photograph. Now women have not always had a voice within politics, it is still a very young part of the American government dating back only a few decades. With this “call to arms” the men and women of the United States can get a word in about the terrible reform of the American healthcare system being proposed.

The most interesting thing I learned about the history of reproductive control in the United States from the readings is the fact that throughout it’s history, the support or lack of support of Planned Parenthood has been largely impacted by what is going on in the world around it, rather than the essence of what Planned Parenthood stands for. For example, in Jill Leopre’s article “Birthright: what’s next for Planned Parenthood?” she talks about how the economic status of the United States has affected how much support Planned Parenthood has received. She says, “During the Depression, when more and more people were interested in having fewer children, Gallup polls found that three out of four Americans supported the legalization of contraception.”

It is complacent to think one can obey the law in order for society to progress. The state should never be looked at as a metric for ethics. One can observe history to understand that. Freedom is a constant struggle that involves grassroot movements, collectivization and solidarity of the communities. The people must liberate themselves and cannot expect oppressors to relinquish their rights. One can see these concepts in movements throughout history.

Conservatives are continuing the absurd stigma around PP and women's heath care that fuels these attacks on women. People don't filter their facebook picture, donate money, create stupid posts about condemning the shooting because they've been told over and over that Planned Parenthood is an evil entity that "kills babies." (Do I really have to explain the difference between an embryo/fetus and a baby?)