Birth Control Pills and Legal Rape
[Edit]
Now that both the US and Canada have made the morning after pill legal and available without a prescription
it is time to continue down the path and end the legalized assault of women who
choose to use the birth control pill. Many people are concerned that the morning
after pill will now become a regular form of birth control for some women (men
of course not being responsible for birth control decisions; but that is a
whole other post). It may become a form of regular birth control,
particularly for those who do not have sex very often; this is dangerous and
should be discouraged. However, for some this may be their only choice,
because access to birth control pills is strictly controlled.
To get a prescription for birth control pills, at least here in
Sexual Assault is generally defined as:
Sexual Assault
- Any form of sexual contact without voluntary consent (Adapted from the Criminal Code of Canada, Sec.270).
- Kissing, fondling, sexual intercourse, anal intercourse, and oral sex are all examples of sexual assault if they are done without voluntary consent.
Consent obtained through pressure, coercion, force, or threats of force is not voluntary consent. [1]
Also:
Sexual penetration of any orifice of the victim's body by a body part or object, achieved through force, threat of force or coercion>[2]
Although the law varies by country and often by state or province; coercion or
force negates consent. While some women would consent to the PAP test
without coercion or force it is there whether the woman chooses to acknowledge
it or not. The threat is that of an unintended pregnancy, or in worse
cases continued good health as the birth control pill is used to treat certain
medical conditions. Some would argue that there are other means to
prevent pregnancy and this is true, however some women choose not to or are
unable to use barrier methods(condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps) and chemical
methods (spermicide). Women are also entitled to make their own medical decisions
free from coercion and without the bias of medical practitioners and
pharmacists.
An allergy to spermicide also eliminates many barrier methods as they depend on
the combination of spermicide and the barrier. An allergy to latex also
makes barrier methods hard to use. Non latex condoms are expensive and
less effective[3]. In addition to all of that
diaphragms and cervical caps are less effective if you have previously given
birth[4]. Not to
mention that using chemical methods (such as sponges, gels, films) require
knowing you are going to have intercourse ahead of time (good luck if you have
kids). Also some couples would like the closeness of not using a condom
without the risk of pregnancy.
Using diaphragms and cervical caps (except the Lea’s Shield) also
requires fitting by a health professional which required consent which woman
may be unwilling or unable to give (for religious reasons).
Though the birth control pill is not without its risks
such as an increased risk of dangerous blood clots, osteoporosis, and even
death; it is a woman’s right to weigh the benefits and risks, in consultation
with a knowledgeable and unbiased professional and choose for herself.
This decision should not also rest on her willingness to have a PAP test, which
may or may not be an important test that all women should have (see Cervical
Specific Antigen and Anti-Malignin Antibody.
We must empower women to make their own medical decisions
and end legal rape.
[1] http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/SAC/nav01.cfm?nav01=23613&
[2] http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/sexual_assault/saar.htm
[3] http://www.contraceptiononline.org/slides/slide01.cfm?q=std&dpg=10
[4] http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/postpartumsex/1375288.html#cap
