state of the reproductive union

[wavyarms]

I don't think I posted about this at the time, but I probably should have. Regardless, some of you were probably aware of the problems that blogger BB at the Den of the Biting Beaver (who lives in Ohio) had when she tried to get emergency contraception. She eventually did get her hands on Plan B, but worried that the delay would interfere with the drug's efficacy. And it turns out she worried with cause, because now she writes that the EC failed.

She deserves mad props for being willing to publish her experiences on her blog. She obviously set herself up for a great deal of hate-mail, in all possible forms. And it's worth signal-boosting this story, I think, so that people know what kinds of problems women are still facing, even though the FDA approved Plan B.

I got this story from Broadsheet on Salon.com. They provide a pretty good summary of the situation. I advise going there for details.

Comments

[ltlbird.livejournal.com]

I should clarify. I certainly don't think that anyone else should dictate who needs EC. That would lead to all sorts of abuses (much like the ones mentioned in the article, in which the doctors got to make their own decisions about to whom the pill would be given.) I just think that if people can just pick up EC whenever they need it with no inconvenience, it could be a way to justify irresponsible sex. Obviously, there are loads of people out there that wouldn't act that way. I think I am mostly worried about teens and less responsible young adults. Then again, those types are probably already having unsafe sex without EC.

I only read the salon.com article, so perhaps I misjudged BB's comments about the fetus.

[wavyarms.livejournal.com]

That's funny, b/c I only read the Salon article too, and then when you posted that, I was like, "Oh, crap, now I actually have to know what I'm talking about and go read what she wrote." So yes, in context, she puts a lot more emphasis on why she's feeling the way she is, and how it has to do with outside attacks (mostly on the blog) more than anything. It's an answer to a friend of hers, actually, who was venting frustration about not liking hearing fetuses referred to in derogatory ways, and BB is talking about how she feels about her fetus, and why she refers to it in derogatory ways, so it's sort of part of a larger blog-discussion, I guess. You're right that out-of-context it's more disturbing, b/c she doesn't explain that she knows where her frustration is coming from, and it's not inside her body.

As for the other, it's kind of a minor inconvenience to have to drive to the drug store at night, right? Beyond that, I think that inconveniencing irresponsible people isn't a good enough reason for inconveniencing the responsible people along with them. Also, as you say, irresponsible people probably don't need any help to have unsafe sex, they're probably already doing it.

Besides, we all fall somewhere in between responsible and irresponsible anyways. Nobody's consistent.

[2h2o.livejournal.com]

I just think that if people can just pick up EC whenever they need it with no inconvenience, it could be a way to justify irresponsible sex.

That's you judging what's irresponsible, which leads to the same slippery slope as any other basis for dictating who should have access. If you want people to avoid sex, possible STDs and emotional fallout are disincentives enough - the threat of unwanted pregnancy is unnecessary.

[ltlbird.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's overly judgmental to think that having unprotected sex is irresponsible. I don't want people to avoid sex, but it would be nice if more of them would think about the consequences (STDs, emotional fallout, and unwanted pregnancy) before they have it. Perhaps I am overestimating the impetuousness of the sexually active public, though.

[2h2o.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's overly judgmental to think that having unprotected sex is irresponsible.

Not all unprotected sex is irresponsible. (If you mean "sex without contraception" rather than "unprotected sex," I don't have any problem with it.) The idea that people have to be threatened with punishment in order to make good decisions is troubling.