Disgusting. Enraging. Ridiculous. These are a few words that come to mind when I think of the recent attack on womens' health. And let's face it, that's what this is.
It's easy to think this is only about abortion, because that's what gets the most press. John Kyl claimed that 90% of services offered by Planned Parenthood were abortions (the actual percentage is 3). People say they don't want their tax dollars going to cover abortions (Planned Parenthood isn't allowed to use federal funds for abortions). A commenter on the internet said he didn't want to support any organization that provided abortions (ever go to a hospital?). Lots of noise and few facts (though in 4 months, a total of 916 anti-choice bills have been introduced in 49 states and nationwide). What else does Planned Parenthood actually do? STD screenings, pap smears (and no, you can't get those at Walgreens) and pelvic exams, a laundry list of general health services (flu shots, cholesterol checks, help quitting smoking), birth control, sex education, even services specifically for men. And let's leave Planned Parenthood and other Title X folks for a minute and talk about HR 358 AKA the “Protect Life” Act. Ordinarily, a hospital that receives federal funding is obligated to provide services for anyone who walks through their door, regardless of ability to pay, etc. If the hospital is unable to provide the care, they must transfer the patient to one that can. HR 358 proposes that an anti-choice hospital can not only refuse to help a woman who needs a medical abortion, but can also refuse to transfer her to a hospital that will save her life. The “Protect Life” act, huh? And speaking of stupid wording, we all remember the “forcible rape” controversy back in February, right?
I want to know why. Someone please tell me that we as a society haven't gotten to the point where women are only good for making babies, and seen as incapable of making their own decisions (hello, South Dakota). Please? I'm going to assume, for my own sanity, that this isn't the whole story.
So what is going on? Maybe Congressman Allen West of Florida gave us a clue when he said that "these Planned Parenthood women, the Code Pink women, and all of these women who have been neutering American men and bringing [them] to the point of this incredible weakness ... let them know that we are not going to have our men become subservient." Yes, he really said "neutering men." And yes, he went on to blame the deficit on this delusional view. Misogynist? Yes. Infuriating? Of course. But outright sexism makes all of this make sense. If you hate women, or even if you just want to keep them down, why would you care if they had adequate health care? Obviously, this isn't the whole story, either, or female legislators wouldn't be backing this kind of thing.
So many other things these days seem to boil down to finances. Maybe this does, too? After all, if you're willing to allow reduced aid for food stamps or shut down a town due to "fiscal emergency", taking away womens' access to low-cost health care is just the icing on the cake. Women who have health insurance (that wasn't taken away or watered down due to HR 3) can probably afford to get annual exams and STD screenings. Women who use Planned Parenthood can't. These same lower-income folks may not have anywhere else to turn for basic health services. The same goes for abortion. Financially-privileged women can get around abortion restrictions by paying out of pocket or traveling to a state with less restrictive laws. For most women, that's not realistic. Safe abortion services are critical to health, a point I made on this blog not so long ago. Remember Kermit Gosnell? These attacks are not just pro- versus anti-choice, but have a strong classist component as well.
Still, even when sexist or classist attitudes are factored in, I still can't wrap my head around these attacks on women. Because everyone- no matter what gender, class, race or credo- deserves to be healthy. If you agree, please help however you can (contacting your legislators, writing a letter to the editor, attending a function or action, donating money or time, etc.). Even though there is a lot going on around the country, we must remind our lawmakers that women matter, too.
