This last year has been a big one for Planned Parenthood. They have definitely received their fair share of both criticism and praise, to say the least.
Starting with this video release, which was later proven to be doctored and taken out of context to make it appear as if Planned Parenthood was dismembering unborn babies and selling their body parts for profit, to the recent shooting at a clinic in Colorado Springs, these stories have made a big splash. That's why it's so important to hear all sides of the story and to do research before assuming something about a company that has helped so many young women with contraceptives and sexual health choices.
Planned Parenthood does assist in abortions — the service they are best known for. This is a testament to what the media focuses on, compared to the number of alternative services they also provide. Statistically, only a mere 3 percent of the services they provide in a year are abortions.
There are so many points of view about the situation: from a religious angle, thinking that abortion, and anything that assists it, is wrong, or from a political angle, disagreeing with Planned Parenthood's initial profit from the sale of fetal tissue to research companies for a less than impressive profit (which is a policy that's been changed in light of the year's accusations; they no longer make profit at all).
Most people who fall on the liberal side of the political spectrum seem to be pro-choice, and vice versa regarding the conservative side and the decision to be pro-life. The term "dead baby parts" was used several times during the Republican party debates, which is politically incorrect regardless of which side you are on. The fact of the matter is, what is being sold are fetal cells to research companies with the permission of whoever would be the mother.
Robert Lewis Dear, a 57-year-old, killed three in a shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic, surrendering five hours after the first shots were fired, in a gun battle with police. His motive? "No more dead baby parts."
Dear literally walked into a clinic and punished those in it for being somewhere that provides abortion services, when the fact of the matter is that women shouldn't be attacked for making a decision about their body. It's not a moral issue, it's a rights issue.
I've recently began listening to a podcast called "Guys We F**ked", hosted by two female comedians from New Jersey. In this podcast, they talk about sex, relationships, feminist issues, and current events. It's colorful and hilarious, but also makes incredibly well informed points in an easy-to-understand way.
In the most recent episode, they discuss the shooting at Planned Parenthood and the ramifications of ostracizing women for making a decision about their bodies. Hosts Krystyna Hutchinson and Corinne Fisher highlight a post they saw on social media that, for the most part, accurately encompasses many feelings of pro-choice young women:
"I don't care if Planned Parenthood provides nothing BUT abortion services. I don't care if it's a million-story abortion superpark with abortion waterslides and an abortion electrical parade. Abortion is legal. ABORTION IS LEGAL. If I read one more "defense" of Planned Parenthood that says "it's not JUST abortions!" or "only 5% of what they do is abortion! And abortions aren't federally funded!" I'm going to abort myself. Abortion is legal, culturally necessary, and good for humanity. It has been and will be practiced for millennia. It is essential. It is a fact. By minimizing, denying or apologizing for this fact, you are allowing these venal anti-woman Nazis to frame this debate and continue to chip away at this essential right. Abortion is not tragic. It is not painful. It is a fact. It is a right. Demand it, fight for it, and for the sake of the women who have given their lives to defend it, stop apologizing for it."
There are so many angles to take here, but I think, from a feminist standpoint, not being apologetic about making a decision about your body is one many feminists can support. Now is the time to stand with Planned Parenthood more than ever, after a tough year, and almost being defunded several times thanks to the pro-lifers, making a donation or even just showing support is priceless.
