A taboo in society, a frowned-upon solution in many religions, and possibly an awkward conversation with mom or dad. Birth control. A way in which a person with a uterus by way of a pill, metal device, shot, rod-of-some-sort, etc. prevents pregnancy. For any and all reasoning.
First of all, having access to birth control is, unfortunately, a privilege. Not always accessible or possible for some, birth control can be a shock to the system. Fluctuations in mental health, weight, demeanor, and body image are common. It is yet another way the government is allowed to regulate those with uteruses in a partisan manner.
The rooms and scenarios in which birth control is— discussed, debated, dissected— it is very rare to have even an equal ratio of uterus-havers to non-uterus-havers. Yet birth control is rarely inaccessible for these parties. Any way you slice it, high-level politicians will always have birth control and abortion options for them and their partners. But that’s a topic for another day.
When speaking to those who exercise the right to birth control, there are some common themes. Some of these are: head and body aches, depression, mood swings, body fluctuations, cramping, and interactions with other afflictions one may have. All to prevent an unwanted pregnancy at a given time—and don’t get me started on the horror of resulting periods or the medical disparities of childbirth. If you’re even using birth control for contraception at all!
It’s not uncommon for these issues to be dismissed as ‘it’s your decision to use birth control’ or even, ‘it’s your decision to have sex’. These are excuses, usually made by those with more reserved views. However, to speak to my own experience, this has been said by men who have unprotected sex without repercussion. I say without repercussion because, when that sex occurs, is usually at the courtesy of someone who uses birth control. Or maybe the grace of a higher power who allows this uterus-haver to please, goodness, get their damn period.
Now you may be thinking, what is this raunchy, leftist, anti-government, ~sensitive~ article I’ve stumbled upon? Well the truth is, we’re talking about the right to do whatever the hell you want with your body—something most straight, cis men have enjoyed since the beginning of time.
I say this bearing in mind that I take birth control. I rely on a contraceptive pill each day to prevent heavy periods, and occasionally the goal is to have a period at all. This shouldn’t be a political debate, it’s Biology. Regarding the social and interpersonal aspect: if it’s bad to be a virgin, and it’s bad to use birth control, and it’s bad to have sex, and it’s bad to get an abortion, and it’s bad to be pregnant before a ‘suitable age’, then what choice is left?
To reference @every2min via Instagram, as they so kindly pointed out, “One man” (for lack of a better term), “can impregnate 9 women every day for 9 months”, which is 2,430 pregnancies. However if someone with a uterus had unprotected sexual intercourse every single day for 9 months with however many partners they desired, that would still be one pregnancy (to paraphrase). This point circles back to my main point: that maybe birth control is available to the wrong biological sex. That maybe these hormones and drugs and procedures haven’t been improved or innovated for a reason: that advocation on part of the woman/uterus haver/pregnancy-capable individual, is lacking. Representation in policy is lacking. And somehow, marginalized groups are forgotten about: in this issue and in countless others.
And it’s time someone says something. It’s something that someone with a platform and a voice needs to reinforce. Even with other trailblazers in this realm, this is an issue that affects half of the population day-in and day-out, regardless. With the social mobility I have and the privilege I have, I’m not in a place to complain. But I am in a place to advocate. And I will do so until I see, or make, a just change.