The Planned Parenthood Political Debate in the United States

Each year, Planned Parenthood provides “830,000 breast exams, nearly one million cervical cancer screenings, half a million HIV tests, and birth control to 2.5 million patients” (CNN). In a society that places an astounding amount of importance on the need for health/sexual education and resources, it is ironic that many people in this same society would fight to defund Planned Parenthood. Since 1916, Planned Parenthood has provided life-saving services to mainly low-income women or women who have limited access to other providers, thus the organization is the only source of healthcare for many women in the United States.

Although this is the case, with the latest presidential results and the Republican majority in the U.S. government, it is feared that the government will cut funding for Planned Parenthood. The defunding of Planned Parenthood will leave a countless number of women, as well as teens, without healthcare; this fight should not be about politics or personal beliefs, it should be about making sure the wonmen in this country have the care that they need in order to survive.

A main reason for the political debate surrounding Planned Parenthood is the fight against abortions. The republican party and other Americans fight funding because they believe that the federal dollars are being used for abortions.

In fact, because of this claim, Planned Parenthood uses money from other sources such as private donors, foundations, and fees to fund its abortion services. Along with this, “abortions comprise only three percent of all of the services provided by Planned Parenthood” (The Washington Post).

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The top three services the organization provides are STI/STD healthcare, contraception, and cancer screenings. The next source of irony surrounding the fight is that the majority of the rest of Planned Parenthood’s services actually helps limiting unwanted pregnancies (like the ones listed above), causing abortion rates to fall in the first place.

Therefore, cutting funds would most definitely have detrimental effects on women’s health and the organization itself, but if anything the rate of abortions would most likely stay the same or possibly increase. A bill cutting funds to Planned Parenthood could most definitely increase rates of abortion; it cannot be clear that spending would actually be less. The talks about passing bills to defund Planned Parenthood are referring to federal funds, which means states still have the ability to spend more money for Medicaid consumers, who then could use that money for Planned Parenthood services (npr).

This money would no longer be federally reimbursed, making services much more expensive. Not to mention, the redirecting of funds will cause many women and families to seek healthcare at new clinics, and some clinics may not be able to accommodate the increase in customers. This will leave many families without healthcare as they will be turned away from these clinics. Leaving this up to states could also mean that mainly Republican/conservative states could choose not to redirect funding to other clinics or Medicaid for families to use at Planned Parenthood because of the outlasting abortion discussion, still leaving many women without proper care just because of ideological beliefs surrounding abortions.

The entire balance of healthcare in states would be disrupted if this is the case. It is time the country acknowledges why the organization is protecting millions of women and teens across the country. “Women make up 50.8 percent of the American population'” (Women On Maintaining Education and Nutrition). Instead of pushing personal belief on abortions, people need to picture the women in their lives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and the many important, influential women in our society. Along with personal relationships with women and positive contributions women make in our society daily, it is also a fact that “in 2012 women were about twice as likely as men to work part time jobs” (W.O.M.E.N). many of these women also fall into the low-income category, meaning that many of them rely on Planned Parenthood for health services.

Another point that cannot be ignored is that women in low- income areas or areas around the border where women immigrate into the U.S. are more vulnerable to rape. Without proper funds these women have nowhere to seek healthcare except for places where a Planned Parenthood is accessible. These women could also be in danger of stopping work if they are unhealthy or have unplanned pregnancies. With the important role women play in society, as caretakers, leaders, workers, etc., it is crucial to recognize that defunding the organization will leave these women without healthcare. This will cause a direct fall in many women’s health statistics in the United States, a country that prides itself on its health care.

The threats against Planned Parenthood is an attack on women’s rights and reproductive rights. Planned Parenthood has been functioning for ninety-nine years, helping save women and their families. Women’s rights have been a withstanding issue for countless years. There have been many advancements made for women’s rights, de funding Planned Parenthood would be a step in the wrong direction for this country. “Each year, more than 2.7 million women, men and teens seek Planned Parenthood services, more than 90 percent of which are for preventive services and education” (Sorenson). Another mistake many people make is ignore the fact that teens and men also use the service.

Meaning that it is also not just a women’s issue, which many politicians ignore. They would be taking away healthcare of not just women, which completely expands the number of people that the defunding will be hurting. In large cities, young women have a higher risk of unplanned pregnancy and STI cases are higher. Many years of advancements and efforts have been made to inmprove these statistics and it is still a goal to improve the countries health, so why take away one of the most common providers of healthcare and health education, especially in the places that need it the most. The fight against Planned Parenthood cannot be a fight against abortion. It is a well- known fact that only three percent of the organizations services includes abortions.

Why is it that politicians ignore every other fact surrounding Planned parenthood ‘s lifesaving services towards the women in our society? The United States constantly prides itself on health care advancements and health/sexual education. Planned Parenthood plays a very significant role in keeping the United States’ health statistics where they are and even improving them. If taken away, abortion rates, unplanned pregnancy rates, and many other very important statistics will drop. Along with this, a cut of federal funds could still mean that funding could take place on a state level.

Meaning that it can give the states the right to choose. Although this is the case, without Planned Parenthood, low-income families and women will be without the care they need. As a nation where women have important and influential roles in society, it is crucial to protect these women. Politics and the fight against abortion needs to be left out of the discussion about Planned Parenthood, as they have little to do with the actual positive contributions that the organization makes on a daily basis.

Works Cited

1. “How Planned Parenthood Actually Uses Its Federal Funding.” The Washington Post. WP Company, 4 Aug. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
2. “The Importance of Women.” W.O.M.E.N. – N.p., 23 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
3. Kurtzleben, Danielle. “Fact Check: How Does Planned Parenthood Spend That GovernmentMoney?” NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
4. Nixon, Cynthia. “Why We Should Protect Planned Parenthood.” CNN. Cable News Network,19 Mar. 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
5. [email protected], KATY. “Why We Continue to Need Planned Parenthood.” Miamiherald. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.