The organization Planned Parenthood has been the object of conservatism hate for years. The main reason for the hate toward Planned Parenthood is that the organization provides abortions. But what most people, mainly conservatives, fail to realize is that whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, we all need Planned Parenthood.
Yes, Planned Parenthood does perform abortions. To many conservatives, this is a grave sin and should not be allowed. Thus, Planned Parenthood should not be allowed. But abortions only make up approximately 3% of all services that Planned Parenthood provides. The other 97% of services provided include contraception, STD prevention and treatment, birth control, cancer screenings, and other health services.
These services are for both men and women, to aid with any sexual and reproductive health needs. Contraception makes up approximately 33% of the services provided, and proper contraception can actually go toward preventing the need for abortions. Abolishing Planned Parenthood would abolish the access to so many crucial health services, including services to aid with the pregnancy process, conception to birth.
Without Planned Parenthood, many people would be left without affordable access to reproductive health needs. There would be an increase in child birth fatalities among mothers, as well as fatalities from STDs or even cancers that went undetected. There also would be no access to abortions. Now before all the conservatives celebrate at that last sentence, let me finish. There would be no legal access to safe abortions. This would not completely eliminate the existence of abortions. It would lead to desperate women seeking out illegal abortions in other countries or at home that are extremely unsafe. There needs to be an acceptance of the fact that for some people, abortion is the only option.
I’ll admit, I am pro-choice. I believe that women deserve every right to do with their body what they will. This doesn’t mean that as soon as I get pregnant I’m going to run out and get an abortion because I can. The argument against abortion is often a narrow minded one. Someone once wrote “It is very simple to avoid making a child if you don’t want one”. This statement is full of ignorance. No form of birth control, other than a hysterectomy, having your tubes cut, or abstinence, is 100 percent effective. Condoms are only 98% effective, and birth control is only 92% effective. That means that it is not a guaranteed way to avoid pregnancy. There are many ways that couples can practice safe sex and still end up with an unwanted pregnancy. The only way to definitely prevent pregnancy while still making love to your partner is to physically mutilate the reproductive organs in an irreversible way. Thus, you will have made the decision to never have any children in your life. A decision that most females are not prepared to make so early in their lives.
The hate toward Planned Parenthood is truly terrifying. According to an article from CBS News, since 1977 there have been eight murders, 17 attempted murders, 42 bombings, 186 arsons and thousands of other incidents, including vandalism, on Planned Parenthood facilities. We cannot afford to let hatred and ignorance destroy this essential organization. Planned Parenthood provides so many necessary services that general health care does not, and an overwhelming majority of those services are not abortions. Some even go toward preventing the need for abortion, like contraception. So many people are uneducated about what Planned Parenthood actually does. It is not an abortion factory, it is not a stronghold of the devil, and it is not full of sinners. It is a good organization that provides good services to all people who need them.
