An Attack on Women’s Rights

An+Attack+on+Womens+Rights

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading reproductive health care providers. They recently commenced a campaign to defend the millions of Americans who will be faced with increased prices of contraceptives, cancer screenings, and family planning services.

2.3 million patients receive healthcare through planned parenthood every year, however now that Donald Trump is the President, low-income women across the United States may not have access to affordable health care. With Planned Parenthood in the crosshairs of the Republican Controlled government, women are afraid and fearful of their future and conceivably for their life.

On January 5th, Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House of Representatives announced the democrat’s plan to dismantle Planned Parenthood, which is funded through ObamaCare. “Planned Parenthood Legislation would be in our reconciliation bill” says Ryan. Receiving $500 million a year of federal money, 40% of the organization’s revenue, Planned Parenthood is dependent on the public funding and without it the organization is confronted with a detrimental loss.

Paul Ryan is denying 1 in 5 American women access to affordable health care from Plan Parenthood. He is repealing not only Obama Care but the reproductive rights of 157 million women.

“Federal community health centers” are the repugnant replacement for Planned Parenthood, from Paul Ryan to the low income people of America. The problem with this replacement is that it has already failed and it hasn’t even been implemented across America. Maternal mortality rates have doubled in Texas , according to The New York Times, after it cut 66% of family funds out, Planned Parenthood making up one-third of those funds. Half of the women in Texas who were receiving affordable health care have had that right ripped from their hands and no longer have access to it.

Paul Ryan defends himself arguing that Planned Parenthood is an “abortion giant”  and that the federal government should not support nor fund such an organization.

America is well aware of the pro-life views of Paul Ryan and Donald Trump, which are supported by underlying religious values, and how they are influencing government actions. However, abortion is not a choice made by the government, it is a right of women everywhere.

Apparently Ryan and Trump are heedless when considering the first amendment and separation of church and state. The irony is that Ryan and Trump argue that the government is funding abortion, but it’s not. In fact, while Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America, they can only use the Affordable Care Act’s funds on contraceptives, cancer screenings, and family planning services.

Donald Trump states  “I am for defunding Planned Parenthood as long as they are involved with abortion.” Trump’s vacuous statement regarding his plans as President avoids that Planned Parenthood provides other services and that the 100 year old organization is simply providing low income women with affordable health care.

Teen pregnancy in America or unintended pregnancy due to lack of proper sexual education and access to affordable contraceptives is preventable with correct actions. Often in today’s society, teenage pregnancy is associated with poverty and parents receive help from federal funding such as food stamps and housing assistance. Planned Parenthood prevents teen pregnancy by education on alternatives to abstinence and the opportunity to access contraceptives at an affordable price.

Planned Parenthood delivers step by step planning to teens who are pregnant and plan on starting a family. They give them access to a 24/7 health care provider that they can chat with through their website. If a teen decides not to pursue the pregnancy they can have access to abortion. If said teen does get an abortion, it is her entitlement as woman to be able to receive health care.

Topeka High’s health teacher, Emily Caryl says “When kids don’t have options and they are feeling helpless or overwhelmed, everything is going to go on the rise; pregnancy, stds…scary.”

Affordable health care is a right of every American Citizen, it is an attack on women across the United States when Ryan and Trump remove Planned Parenthood from the government’s funding.