By: Gabriela Borzachini
The program that was
started in 1916, Planned Parenthood (PP) aims to help women and men make
responsible choices concerning pregnancy and sexual activity. Their services
include everything from STD testing to birth control to abortions to so much
more. [1] However, there has been speculation concerning the morals the company holds.
First off, it is
important to know that methods of contraception have been around for many
years. Some are recent while many were used hundreds of years ago by people
just like us. In the Colonial era, contraception was not used as much because
in this time sex was mostly used for procreation. The use of contraception
increased by the Victorian era. This is caused by several factors including the
creation of ports and cities, independent farms, and the new idea that marriage
and sex is based on intimacy. Since these new ideas about sex
came along, the use of condoms and other types of birth control increased. [2] 
A widely used form
of birth control that is used today is the pill, an oral contraceptive taken
daily. In 1950, Margaret Sanger, the founder of
Planned Parenthood, started her research on the birth control pill. Her pill
was approved by the FDA in 1960 and has been used by women ever since. [3] There is controversy around several PP services. One
of these services is giving birth control to minors without the need for
parental consent. However, this particular issue is one that would need to be
taken up with federal and state laws. Most states allow minors to obtain birth
control without the need of a parent to sign off on it. There are loopholes in
the system for states that do not allow this. If a patient has federal grants
or Medicaid then clinics are required by law to provide patient confidentiality
no matter how old the client is. This means the federal rules do not allow them
to ask for a parent’s consent. [4] Planned Parenthood definitely uses this to their
advantage.
Another related
issue includes PP’s methods of sex education. An organization called “STOPP”
has promoted their opinions about PP and its sex education services in order to
keep their services outside of the public schools. They claim that PP is making
kids interested in sex too early. They are exposing children as young as ten years
old to phallic and vagina shaped objects and books on how to masturbate. What
is the end result of this exposure? Teenagers and young adults have sex on
their minds; therefore they start having sex early, and will start using PP’s
services to get birth control, STD testing, and, if all else fails, abortions.
According to “STOPP”, PP wants to provide children with this information and
expose them to sex so that eventually they will use PP’s services and bring in
revenue.[5]
There are certainly
other issues involved around PP. In some instances, Planned Parenthood can
provide good services. For those who are pro choice, they will find PP’s
services to be worth their while. In my opinion, if you want to use their services, go for it, and if you
do not, then stay away. I do not think it is right to deny a person something
they choose to do just because some people do not find it ethical.
[1] Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.,
"Mission," Planned Parenthood,
http://www.plannedparenthood.org, (accessed February 28, 2014).
[2]
Crystal Moore, lecture for “Sex in Colonial America,” University of North
Carolina at Charlotte, 4 February 2014.
[3] Kirsten Thompson, Our Bodies Ourselves, "A
Brief History of Birth Control," http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/companion.asp?id=18&compID=53
(accessed 28 Feb. 2014).
[4]
Carolyn Jones, “Getting Mom’s Permission,” The
Texas Observer, 30 July 2013, http://www.thetexasobserver.org
(accessed 28 Feb. 2014).
[5]
American Life League. “Hooking Kids on Sex II.” YouTube video, 6:35. February 27, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7XR9yH2ETk#t=380
.
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