My Fight For Birth Control

               Margaret Sanger describes in “My Fight For Birth Control” the death of a poor women after her second botched abortion. After the first abortion the women begs Sanger for the “secret” believing rich, upper class women knew how to prevent pregnancy. The attending doctor told the woman to have her husband sleep on the roof. Sanger said she wanted to help women like Mrs. Sachs but was unable to offer anything but palliative care. After Sachs death Sanger vows to help women like Sachs learn how to control unwanted pregnancies. Sanger’s description of the young mother’s death from an abortion demonstrates how important affordable, safe birth control is for all women.

                The availability of birth control for women and even young girls is in danger of being all but outlawed. The Catholic Church wants to withhold birth control from its healthcare packages, stating that because the Church outlaws birth control they should not be forced to offer contraceptives, even to non-Catholics. The Church is also against contraceptives as part of the Affordable Health Bill. People say if it’s not in a health care package you can go to Planned Parenthood. But many states (and organizations) are cutting funds to Planned Parenthood citing the fact that PP offers abortions. Many young women use PP as a way to receive birth control and other gynecological services because they cannot ask parents (who may be abusive or religious) for support. Because of less financial support Planned Parenthood is facing financial difficulties and may need to cut service. Unfortunately, this lack of services will not prevent women from getting pregnant but it could increase the number of dangerous back alley abortions.

                Many of the same legislators that want to cut birth control funding and restrict laws allowing access to birth control are the same people that want to cut services to programs for pregnant women and children, it is such backward logic, an example of love the fetus, hate the child mentality.