Planned Parenthood

This week, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest breast cancer charity in the US, decided to stop funding Planned Parenthood in the wake of an investigation PP is under in Florida to see how the company uses tax dollars. I read an article (http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2012/february/378167/Florida-congressman-leads-Planned-Parenthood-investigation) that addressed the dilemma but also provides a deeper understanding of what Planned Parenthood does for women. Most women (including myself) believe PP is a place to get abortions and STD testing, but what I (and I’m sure other women) did not know was Planned Parenthood’s role in breast cancer prevention. The clinics offer breast exams for lower-class women who cannot afford mammograms. While PP is an active supporter of Pro-Choice and performs abortions, according to the article, only 3% of women who visit the clinics are there for abortions; Most come in to receive health examinations.

What intrigued me most about this article, though, was how these investigations are being lead by men. Simone de Beauvoir made the point that women are subjected to masculine rule because of our inability to congregate; her point perfectly addresses this situation. Out of the 535 people in Congress, 93 are women. Yes, there are smaller groups of women fighting for our rights, but in the end these decisions are made by large groups of men. This thought is absolutely ridiculous to imagine men discussing the rights women should have; this sounds like 1919 where men were discussing the 19^th amendment. No man should be able to make decisions on behalf of women or their bodies. Despite views on abortion, Planned Parenthood is a necessary company for women across America and men should have no right to shut down clinics. People complain about how expensive proper health care is, but Planned Parenthood offers an alternative, free option for women to prevent breast cancer. The Representative was arguing that Planned Parenthood should be, “totally self-sufficient” and not rely on tax dollars. The article investigated this and found that not one clinic in Central Florida receives any tax dollars. Case closed.