Op-Ed

Planned Parenthood- Just Dead Babies?

How the word ‘abortion’ blinds reality.

By: Olivia Venuta

Opinion Columnist

May 13, 2020

When I was 18 years old, I found out I had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). I hadn’t had my period yet, which normally happens for women anywhere from ages 8-15. Here I was, about to head off to college, still not technically a ‘woman’. Growing up I was very active. I played soccer, golf, ice hockey, and I swam on the swim team. The doctors attributed my 'late period’ to too much physical activity, although, I always felt as if something was a little off. My doctors always told me to wait. Wait until you start exercising less and then your cycle will regulate. I kept waiting and it never came.

It was not until I visited an OBGYN, with my parent’s insurance, that I was diagnosed. My blood tests came back normal and I was not showing any direct symptoms of PCOS (acne, overweight, facial hair), so I had an ultrasound done. This is when I was diagnosed. Next, they prescribed me birth control, sent me on my way, and I have been using birth control every month ever since. It has almost been two and a half years since that diagnosis. I am lucky that I can afford birth control. I am lucky that my parent’s insurance covers my doctors’ visits and prescription costs. I am lucky that my doctor finally listened and cared. Some women are not so lucky.

During the past three years, the Trump administration has launched an attack on Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive care. Women’s reproductive rights are being compromised nationwide as a result of misinformation and false rhetoric. The current rhetoric that surrounds Planned Parenthood is based on divisive language and logical fallacies. Protesters outside of these facilities are known for harassing the women that enter the clinics by waving anti-abortion signs and yelling hateful speech. These signs claim that Planned Parenthood “kills babies” and that “abortion kills a person”. The protestors thrust pictures of the ‘limbs’ and the bodies of aborted fetuses at the women as they walk in and out of the building.

Of course, Planned Parenthood sites are not just abortion clinics. They provide ample support and countless services that do not include controversial political issues. Planned Parenthood provides birth control to those who need it (a contraceptive that prevents pregnancy in the first place), STD testing, OBGYN care, cancer screenings, infertility services, and general health care. When running for office, Trump released his budget which included his plan to “defund” Planned Parenthood. One of Trump’s more recent thoughts on the matter was expressed during a debate where he said "I would defund it because of the abortion factor, which they say is 3 percent. I don't know what percentage it is. They say it's 3 percent. But I would defund it, because I'm pro-life.” (Jacobson, 2019).

There are many arguments, based on factual statistics, stating that the percentage of women that use Planned Parenthood’s prenatal care and access to breast exams is low. I would argue that the rhetorical language that surrounds Planned Parenthood and the hatred it receives for even giving access to abortion, prevents people from seeking out the services that clinics provides. The hateful rhetoric deters women from going to these reproductive clinics in the first place. If the way society talked about Planned Parenthood was changed, it is likely that more women would be aware of these services and utilize them.

Planned Parenthood provides consultations and birth control to women. Women who can not afford to have regular doctor’s visits or do not have regular periods. Women who are diagnosed with PCOS, like me, and may need the services Planned Parenthood provides. As of now, the only known way to regulate your period, if you get diagnosed with PCOS, is with birth control. These birth control pills are provided at reproductive clinics around the United States. The shutting down and defunding of Planned Parenthood may not be a priority to everyone. Even women like me, who have access to birth control through insurance and regular OBGYN visits, may not understand this as a crisis. Yet, women who need these services and clinics for their health, do see this as a crisis.

We must understand that Trump is proposing his solution to his subjective crisis when he talks about defunding Planned Parenthood. In his eyes, the crisis is abortion itself and he uses self-reflexivity to propose his solution. His idea of a crisis is based on his pro-life beliefs and nobody can take that away from him. However, in the process of self-expression, he is using rhetoric to destroy the whole of Planned Parenthood due to one single aspect of the organization, instead of looking at the crisis this defunding would create for thousands of women across the U.S. We must listen to the women who need these alternate services the most and we must continue to provide these services. For the good of our country and for the health of our women.

References

Jacobson, L. (2019, January 7). Updated - Trump-O-Meter: Defund Planned Parenthood.

Retrieved January 2020, from https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/

trumpometer/promise/1357/defund-planned-parenthood/

Roberts-Miller, P. (2017). Demagoguery and Democracy. New York: The Experiment .

Why Defund Planned Parenthood? (2018). Retrieved January 2020, from http://protestpp.com/

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