I must admit that I’m completely confused by what is going on in the U.S. concerning women’s bodies and their right to control them. In addition to most of the GOP presidential contenders, there is a small yet vocal and powerful group already holding office who are desperately trying to dismantle a woman’s right to her own body.
Didn’t we address this topic over 50 years ago?
I can dress like a woman, that doesn't make me one and I won't decide their personal health issues
Today, some members of Congress (all Republican, by the way) held a hearing about the recent brouhaha surrounding birth control. This furry angel is concerned and pawplexed for a number of reasons. Why is the committee comprised of men? Why was the first batch of witnesses made up of humans who cannot give birth (men!)? Why were no dissenting witnesses allowed to testify?
Women’s health issues being debated and decided by men — Sounds like 1912, not 2012 to me. It’s like a pack of dogs making life decisions over a flock of hummingbirds. I know that’s a strange analogy but dogs know nothing of the inner-workings of delicate birds and Rep Darrell Issa (R) knows nothing about women.
Religious fanaticism is on the rise within a faction of our society and even our government. Stripping women of their rights to access safe and affordable birth control and abortion services is relinquishing rights that women fought for decades ago.
We’ve seen how religious fundamentalism from the government level influences society — just look at the Taliban. Instead of burkas, perhaps these Republicans will have women wear “freedom frocks” or a “liberty wrap”. Really people, these men want to control women from conception to death and this dog is frustrated, furious and frightened.
Men like Issa and Santorum are against insurance coverage for birth control pills and devices yet they must be just fine with coverage for E.D. medications like Viagra, since it has never been mentioned. So, in their minds men have the right to get randier while women have no say in whether they want to conceive or not.
Women’s health is taking a backseat to extreme ideology. To this thoughtful pup, rule of thumb should be if you don’t have a uterus, you don’t get to make decisions about women’s family planning and women’s private health matters. Simple and obvious.
Little Timmy Elijah Love sees no love in the GOP's attack on women's rights
Friends — woman friends — vote with your lady parts. Do not give away your own God-given power to make your own personal decisions.
I’ll close with a few facts from the Guttmacher Institute on reproductive health:
• There are 62 million U.S. women in their childbearing years (15–44).
• Seven in 10 women of reproductive age (43 million women) are sexually active and do not want to become pregnant, but could become pregnant if they and their partners fail to use a contraceptive method.
• The typical U.S. woman wants only two children. To achieve this goal, she must use contraceptives for roughly three decades.
• Virtually all women (more than 99%) aged 15–44 who have ever had sexual intercourse have used at least one contraceptive method.
• Overall, 62% of the 62 million women aged 15–44 are currently using a method.
• Almost one-third (31%) of these 62 million women do not need a method because they are infertile; are pregnant, postpartum or trying to become pregnant; have never had intercourse; or are not sexually active.
• Thus, only 7% of women aged 15–44 are at risk for unintended pregnancy but are not using contraceptives.
• Among the 43 million fertile, sexually active women who do not want to become pregnant, 89% are practicing contraception.
