Late last month the FDA decreased the age limit for the emergency contraceptive pill Plan B One-Step. The pill a.k.a the morning after pill, was restricted for the use of adult women, including women who were aged 17 years old with prescription.
The judge who had appealed the FDA's previous restriction wanted the pill to be made available over-the-counter to women of all ages, but the FDA brought down the age limit to 15, while making it available without a prescription. But there are still restrictions. Girls who want to purchase the drug will have to show proof of age, and other contraceptive pills and generics will still be restricted to women of legal age. So while this new milestone is historic, it still continues to generate discussion about women's reproductive rights and their choices, as well as parental responsibility.
It's a victory for some, but for many women, specifically poor women who are disproportionately women of color, the access to this drug won't be easily obtainable when you consider the price and it is expensive. Availability doesn't always mean affordability. What's the likelihood that majority of the Plan-B sales will be easily accessible and bought by women and girls of a certain income bracket?
A sexually-active 15 year old from an upper-middle class American family, with an allowance, will be more likely to obtain birth control, compared to a sexually-active 15 year old from a poor American family, whose parents can barely afford adequate allowance.
Class warfare strikes again, excluding a large percentage of the targeted demographic. So is it truly a victory for women?
At twenty-three years of age, the thought of motherhood is so far in the back of my mind. I cannot recall a time in my childhood or adolescence, where I seriously thought of having a child when I grew older. Of course at those ages, no child would be certain of what direction their life would head in, but looking back, I could still say no; I was not crazy about being a mother.
During high school the fact became clearer. Teen pregnancy was rampant, and there were so many girls I knew and had class with, that got pregnant and never showed up to school again. I promised I would never get pregnant as a teen, or even into my early twenties — some wishful thinking.
Fast forward - here I am and the fact still remains: I'm not crazy about becoming a mother. It does make me wonder sometimes whether society, family, or my personality among other things, concluded this decision for me. Various phobia's and my self-worth are other factors that contribute to these feelings, but an unexpected package at my doorstep last week would reaffirm this for me, once again.
I woke up one morning last week and discovered a box at my door. It had my name on it and address. But I didn't order anything. I hadn't ordered anything in months. What also came as a surprise to me was what was written on the box. It read: Similac Strong Moms?! Umm...what? Never mind that a few weeks prior, I had an identity theft scare, in which my business email was hacked and someone had used my name and personal information to seek mortgage consulting, and even viewed Amazon gift cards. After extensively changing and securing all of my passwords, my stomach sank and figured that this someone used my information to order a package I did not want. Then I thought, why would I receive it? Wouldn't they order something that they would receive?
After calming down, checking bank accounts and realizing that no orders had been unknowingly made, I wondered whether the box was a sample delivery. I looked at the box again and examined it. Yes, indeed it was a free sample offer. But why? I was not a mother, nor an expectant one.
I quickly reminded myself that obviously women in my age group are becoming new mothers and perhaps Similac figured, why not send a free gift to a possible future customer (or mother). I was half-relieved (that no one ordered this on my account) and half-insulted (yup).
Insulted because, in today's society there are a lot of expectations of women. But women now have more options. A woman can live a carefree and independent life in ways that their foremother's could not. Motherhood is a choice. So why do I feel like I'm being suffocated with it? That package was just one in the long line of pregnancy encouragement and pressure I've experienced.
While some may say that women were created to reproduce, there's no obligation. For this reason, it scares me how some politicians want to do-away with the reproductive rights of women. Stripping women of rights that will reverse many achievements, can create a dramatic shift in how women deal with their sexual health choices, and society. As if we need anymore ways to step backwards. Imagine that after all these decades of improvements (albeit some unnatural) in women's health, for it to only be banned?
I should clarify that I was only bothered by the package because I knew it was sent to encourage me buy their product, as well as the hidden expectation that I may have a child. This may come across as over-dramatic or sensitive, but when society and especially your family, constantly question you on your reproductive choices, the topic of motherhood becomes very detestable.
The likelihood of me becoming a mother in the future is uncertain (maybe yes, maybe no). I will continue resisting and hope that any chance of me becoming a mother in the near future is not a result of compliance or fear, but one of MY choice.
In the meantime, I'll save that package for someone who may need it. Not me of course, ha.
