Women’s Health

HER BODY, THEIR CHOICE

Article by Peyton Alch Graphic by Jaidyn Holt

Women around the country are being told “no.” Due to increased political focus in women’s health, women are being denied access to certain healthcare initiatives, especially regarding reproductive health. e role of politics in women’s health has impacted and regulated the ways in which women can receive healthcare.

“I think that the igniting factor is abortion,” Certi ed Nurse Midwife Nadine Flaharty said. “ e ability to either bear a child or restrict the possibility of that happening is ultimately a woman’s choice. I think that many politicians are anxious to control that aspect of women’s lives.”

Nonpro t organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, have been negatively impacted by the drastic increase in the politicization of women’s healthcare. Planned Parenthood is a nonpro t organization that provides healthcare services for women. Although they provide a variety of health services and screenings, many people seem to only associate the organization with abortions. is is why many want to defund their clinics, despite the fact that no federal funds are used to perform abortions. Instead, Planned Parenthood uses private donations to fund the procedures. e Defund Planned “Knowing that random politicians are tryParenthood Act of 2021 ing to control what we do with our bodies was introduced to the House in January of 2021. is bill restricts any fedis really frusturating, especially because men’s health isn’t constantly challenged eral funding for Planned by politics the way women’s health is” Parenthood clinics for one year unless they certify that the clinics will not perform - Mila Taylor, 8th Gradeabortions. Planned Parenthood’s budget is tied to Congress, so they have control over where the money goes. Defunding Planned Parenthood decreases healthcare access for so many women, many of whom are dependent on the free healthcare provided, beyond just abortions. “General health checkups, as well as things like STD testing and cancer checks, are available to women,” Flaharty said. “So when Planned Parenthood is threatened, it’s a whole litany of healthcare that is threatened.” According to Planned Parenthood statistics, 56 percent of their health clinics are in rural areas with less health access, which helps provide healthcare to women who aren’t insured, or who can’t a ord to go to a primary care physician. Michael Stroup, an OB-GYN at Winnie Palmer Hospital, explains that lack of insurance can be a large factor. Many women who don’t have insurance, have to rely on places where free healthcare is o ered. “ e big struggle is whether you’re insured or not,” Stroup said. “A large percentage of the population, especially in Florida, is uninsured. Even though people can get emergency care, many don’t really have good access to primary care.” Stroup added that he believes it is unlikely that the political debate about women’s right to healthcare will end anytime soon. Politics play an instrumental role in the healthcare system, speci cally impacting women’s health issues, widening the gender gap associated with men and women’s access to healthcare.

With many medical procedures, including sterilization, there is a huge gender gap between what men have access to and how they can get it compared to women. In a 2014 article from the Chicago Tribune, a woman spoke about her experience trying to have a tubal ligation, which is a surgical procedure to prevent pregnancy.

Doctors were hesitant to give her one, telling her she might change her mind in the future. When her husband went to a doctor seeking a vasectomy, he was given one with little resistance.

“ ey don’t restrict vasectomies, for example,” Flaharty said. “Men typically don’t make the decisions when it comes to terminations. I think the fact that women have the right to make their own decisions causes many politicians to feel the need to control that.”

With constant challenges to women’s reproductive health, politics are more prominent in healthcare than ever and will continue to impact women of all ages. Eighth grader Mila Taylor expressed her concern about how women’s health is changing. She said that these drastic changes are impacting women everywhere, including young girls.

The impact of politics on women’s health

“I feel like it especially a ects our mental well-being,” Taylor said. “Knowing that random politicians are trying to control what we do with our bod“Healthcare has nothing to do ies is really frustrating, especially with the law, nothing to do with because men’s anything other than a woman’s health isn’t conright to make decision for herself.” stantly challenged by politics the way women’s health - Nadine Flaharty is.” Women’s health being constantly undermined and restricted negatively a ects the health and overall welfare of young girls. Recently, state and federal lawmakers want to prevent teens from accessing contraceptive care unless they ask their parents for permission. ese laws can lead to higher rates of unwanted pregnancy and STDs. “It impacts us too, especially people like teen moms, who should have the ability to make a decision about their bodies for themselves but can’t,” Taylor said. Women everywhere are continuing to be impacted by constant political involvement and restrictive laws. Flaharty explains that politics shouldn’t a ect how women make decisions about their bodies, because it is an innate right. “Healthcare has nothing to do with law, nothing to do with anything other than a woman’s right to make decisions for herself,” Flaharty said.