Thursday, June 10, 2010

Are We Free?

In the readings for this week I noticed, finally, a painfully obvious need for intersectionality. Reproductive rights are an issue that women and men from every class, race, background, and country can benefit from. We must, as the human race, strive to create a safe place for all people to independently determine their own reproductive freedoms. In Susan Davis’s article she tracks the history of people’s push for reproductive control over their own bodies. She chronicles this history, noting that “As far back as 1850 BCE, Egyptian women used vaginal pessaries… as did Indian, African, and Middle-Eastern women” (Davis 99). It is interesting to see that these fertility control methods were in place even before the onset of modern Christianity- which now is one of the biggest groups against it. Davis also notes, on page 99, that “The Old Testament refers to vaginal sponges” (99). So what happened? Why is it that in this day of modern medicine women in many places still do not have reproductive rights? YOU, yes, YOU, do not even have reproductive rights. We think that we do, but, in many cases, we do not. In Angela Davis’ “Reproductive Rights”, these issues are explored. Davis’ article explores how race plays an important factor in reproductive rights in the United States. When thinking of reproductive freedoms, one usually connects to the right to have an abortion or receive birth control. But what about the opposite? What about the right to reproduce naturally? These rights have been forcefully stolen from many women of color in America, especially Blacks and Latinos. Here are some statistics from Davis-
“by 1976 some 24 percent of all Indian women of childbearing age had been sterilized”
“According to a national Fertility Study conducted in 1970…20 percent of all married Black women have been permanently sterilized”
“By the 1970’s, over 35 percent of all Puerto Rican women of childbearing age had been surgically sterilized” (Davis 105). These figures are horrifying. To think that these women had their ability to reproduce and have families ripped away by our own government is sickening. This issue, in itself, is the biggest call for intersectionality in gender studies that I have ever seen. These statistics are much like that of the Malwian’s, which is a little scary. When reading that novel I never considered that things could be as bad here. But after these readings and a long night of my own research, I know that they can be.
In the Unites States, women have many more reproductive freedoms than that of an African woman. That is, upper class women. Angela Davis has proven that we discriminate when sterilizing, but what about discrimination regarding birth control? In the state of Ohio a woman receiving state funded medical insurance (Medicaid) has little to no control over her birth control rights. I have found that while Medicaid will pay for a woman to have an IUD (a form of birth control) inserted, they will NOT pay to have it removed. This procedure can cost up to 300 dollars, which is often too much for those on welfare to pay. If left in the body longer than the recommended time these devices have been known to cause cervical and ovarian cancers, sterilization, and even death. So how free are we? Scores of women have had these IUD’s inserted by their doctors after having a child, myself included, to find out later that they cannot have them removed. I, personally, have suffered cysts, pain, and other serious problems associated with the overdue removal of an IUD and cannot get it taken out. Even if a woman complains about side effects related to the IUD it is still almost impossible to get them to pay for removal. In some cases, women have been irreversibly damaged when trying to pull or cut them out themselves. I am quite over the limit for posting, so my rant will now end. But I urge you to please, for the sake of yourself, write your state rep, congress, and Governor to demand for the end of these travesties.


2 comments:

  1. Mindi,
    Such a wonderful beginning to your final project. Be sure to use this post as a starting point. You have great ideas & passion here.

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  2. I like the idea, it is very much an intersectional problem as you look at how different cultures deal with the issue. However, my question would kind of be geared towards the international studies and political view in your project. You will see differences and some may sound immoral or even cruel in your eyes. Some may seem to be evil in all aspects and you would argue that they woman and citizens should have the freedom that we have in the United States. However, do we do something about it as a "superior" country. I mean our constitution talks about man's natural rights. One might argue that this should be a right that all individuals should have. The right to choose what you wish to do.

    So do we step in and play the big brother card? Do we tell their government that every person in this world has a right to choose their own decisions. It would be absurd to think that people can force an abortion or anything like this, even force physical mutation or change the shape of a person's body. How can we sit here and do nothing when we know it is going on? Or why do we believe that maybe it is good that we do not step in a lend a hand? Think about it.

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