Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
If You're Going to Fight about Uteruses, Maybe Find Someone Who HAS One?
The Internet has been abuzz today with discussion and photographic evidence from the hearings about birth control...which seem not to involve any women. This seems rather counter-intuitive (and in fact counter-productive) to me. It also made me want to share some of my perspective on the topic.
I began a birth control protocol (daily pill) at 19. I was not (SO, SO, sadly NOT) sexually active at the time. What a lot of people, including a majority of men, including, I'm fairly certain, most of the men involved in today's hearings, do not realize, is that the same hormones that prevent you from getting pregnant also treat a host of other illnesses and issues. For me, it was an extremely painful affliction the details of which I won't go into here. After years of debilitating pain a couple of days per month, my doctor finally recommended and prescribed a birth control pill. And it helped. A LOT. It kept me from having to swallow quite such massive doses of Naproxen (the ingredient in Aleve, which back in the olden days was only available by prescription). It helped a variety of things.
Did I ever make use of my birth control pill as birth control? Sure, if I'm being completely honest, I did. Most of the time, I didn't rely solely on the pill, because the pill does not protect against STD's. And I mean, being on birth control certainly did not make me feel like I had license to be promiscuous. What it did was help me be in less pain, and have one more safety measure in place on those occasions when I chose to have sex. Which I did on occasion because I was an adult woman capable of making such decisions for myself.
When I lived in Georgia, my insurance didn't cover birth control, so I had to stop taking it (because I made very little money and birth control was less essential than my asthma and thyroid medications). And guess what happened? The pain came back, in spades. Guess what else happened? I still had sex (sorry, Mom, but I did). For me, and for a lot of women with similar medical reasons for taking birth control, the link between birth control and sex is not as straight-lined as that panel of privileged old men would believe.
Furthermore, even if it were, I really don't get what business it is of theirs. As I've said before, I do understand the argument against abortion. But there is a significant difference, to me, between being against abortion and thinking you get to have a say about what I do in my own sex life. This is such a gigantic step backwards I can barely even wrap my head around it.
I'm not sure how coherent this post even is because I'm rushing to get it done, as I have to go now and care for my two children, who, thanks in part to birth control, were born when I was good and ready to have them. And aren't they lucky to be raised by a mom who actively wanted them and jumped for joy with each positive pregnancy test?
I began a birth control protocol (daily pill) at 19. I was not (SO, SO, sadly NOT) sexually active at the time. What a lot of people, including a majority of men, including, I'm fairly certain, most of the men involved in today's hearings, do not realize, is that the same hormones that prevent you from getting pregnant also treat a host of other illnesses and issues. For me, it was an extremely painful affliction the details of which I won't go into here. After years of debilitating pain a couple of days per month, my doctor finally recommended and prescribed a birth control pill. And it helped. A LOT. It kept me from having to swallow quite such massive doses of Naproxen (the ingredient in Aleve, which back in the olden days was only available by prescription). It helped a variety of things.
Did I ever make use of my birth control pill as birth control? Sure, if I'm being completely honest, I did. Most of the time, I didn't rely solely on the pill, because the pill does not protect against STD's. And I mean, being on birth control certainly did not make me feel like I had license to be promiscuous. What it did was help me be in less pain, and have one more safety measure in place on those occasions when I chose to have sex. Which I did on occasion because I was an adult woman capable of making such decisions for myself.
When I lived in Georgia, my insurance didn't cover birth control, so I had to stop taking it (because I made very little money and birth control was less essential than my asthma and thyroid medications). And guess what happened? The pain came back, in spades. Guess what else happened? I still had sex (sorry, Mom, but I did). For me, and for a lot of women with similar medical reasons for taking birth control, the link between birth control and sex is not as straight-lined as that panel of privileged old men would believe.
Furthermore, even if it were, I really don't get what business it is of theirs. As I've said before, I do understand the argument against abortion. But there is a significant difference, to me, between being against abortion and thinking you get to have a say about what I do in my own sex life. This is such a gigantic step backwards I can barely even wrap my head around it.
I'm not sure how coherent this post even is because I'm rushing to get it done, as I have to go now and care for my two children, who, thanks in part to birth control, were born when I was good and ready to have them. And aren't they lucky to be raised by a mom who actively wanted them and jumped for joy with each positive pregnancy test?
Friday, February 10, 2012
Gratitude
A friend of mine posted this morning about a friend of hers who passed away a year ago today, from breast cancer. She was 32 years old and had a six month old baby. That? Is a tragedy. My heart goes out to her family, and to her, because I can imagine the pain of knowing you would never get to see that baby grow up (at least not here in the physical plain). It sucks.
And, having a six month old myself, it is a really good reminder of WHY it is so important to be grateful for every single day I have with my precious girl (and my boy, too). Even the miserable days are DAYS. We would all do well to remember that.
I also have a dear friend from college who is battling ovarian cancer, and I know she's going to kick its ass into next week. Part of the reason I know that? Because this is a woman who is REALLY GOOD at living in the now and appreciating life.
Gratitude is a powerful tool. It can change your entire perspective. Days I wake up and remember to take a minute to review all the things I'm grateful for are consistently better (by a large margin) than days I wake up and allow myself to feel beaten down.
Listen, I don't mean to preach here. I'm not in a position to lecture anyone. Just some observations for a Friday morning...especially since it being Friday topped my list this morning.
And, having a six month old myself, it is a really good reminder of WHY it is so important to be grateful for every single day I have with my precious girl (and my boy, too). Even the miserable days are DAYS. We would all do well to remember that.
I also have a dear friend from college who is battling ovarian cancer, and I know she's going to kick its ass into next week. Part of the reason I know that? Because this is a woman who is REALLY GOOD at living in the now and appreciating life.
Gratitude is a powerful tool. It can change your entire perspective. Days I wake up and remember to take a minute to review all the things I'm grateful for are consistently better (by a large margin) than days I wake up and allow myself to feel beaten down.
Listen, I don't mean to preach here. I'm not in a position to lecture anyone. Just some observations for a Friday morning...especially since it being Friday topped my list this morning.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Disappointment
**UPDATE** The Komen Foundation has backed off the decision to cut this funding. Another success for online activism!
*****
Ten years ago this spring, my mom and I participated in the Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day. This was before the Komen Walk (3 Day) and the Avon Walk (2 Day) split into two separate events. It was among the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I credit it with cementing my adult relationship with my mother, as well as kick-starting a weight loss and fitness regimen that carried through the remainder of my twenties (though I need to get BACK into THAT now...digression).
My maternal grandmother died of Breast Cancer in 1971. I never knew her. Breast cancer is a very personal thing to so many of us, myself included.
And that is why it breaks my heart that I won't be able to support Komen anymore. I just cannot justify supporting a supposed charitable organization that is pulling funding to the largest single provider of free breast cancer screenings in the United States.
Believe me, I understand why. I understand why people have such an issue with Planned Parenthood. Abortion is a deeply felt issue on both sides of the argument, and there is no easy resolution. My personal views have been made clear repeatedly in this space so I won't go into that again now.
But here's the thing. Komen was NOT funding abortions at PP. I know for a fact that PP is very careful about assigning their donations and grants. They have to be because every cent is examined. So, I can say with a measure of certainty that Komen was, in fact, funding BREAST EXAMS. And now they're not. Which is shameful and embarrassing, and the reason I will have to pull MY support of THAT organization. Luckily for me (and those like me), there are lots of other places to donate to help eradicate breast cancer.
I guess if I ever walk again, I'll stick with Avon. Unless they do something equally boneheaded, that is.
*****
Ten years ago this spring, my mom and I participated in the Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day. This was before the Komen Walk (3 Day) and the Avon Walk (2 Day) split into two separate events. It was among the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I credit it with cementing my adult relationship with my mother, as well as kick-starting a weight loss and fitness regimen that carried through the remainder of my twenties (though I need to get BACK into THAT now...digression).
My maternal grandmother died of Breast Cancer in 1971. I never knew her. Breast cancer is a very personal thing to so many of us, myself included.
And that is why it breaks my heart that I won't be able to support Komen anymore. I just cannot justify supporting a supposed charitable organization that is pulling funding to the largest single provider of free breast cancer screenings in the United States.
Believe me, I understand why. I understand why people have such an issue with Planned Parenthood. Abortion is a deeply felt issue on both sides of the argument, and there is no easy resolution. My personal views have been made clear repeatedly in this space so I won't go into that again now.
But here's the thing. Komen was NOT funding abortions at PP. I know for a fact that PP is very careful about assigning their donations and grants. They have to be because every cent is examined. So, I can say with a measure of certainty that Komen was, in fact, funding BREAST EXAMS. And now they're not. Which is shameful and embarrassing, and the reason I will have to pull MY support of THAT organization. Luckily for me (and those like me), there are lots of other places to donate to help eradicate breast cancer.
I guess if I ever walk again, I'll stick with Avon. Unless they do something equally boneheaded, that is.
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