Why is the idea of a woman of childbearing age taking birth control considered taboo? I’m going to choose to be optimistic and believe that the majority of the opposition no longer stems from just blatantly being against its creation and usage. Thankfully, that kind of thinking seems to have at least partially died out in the years since Roe v. Wade in 1973, although the appalling idea that someone else should be able to dictate what a woman does with her body is still very much alive. All of that aside, however, I think the underlying, yet perhaps key problem, is slut shaming.
There is a ridiculous opinion that simply because a woman chooses to take birth control, she wants to have frequent sex with multiple partners. First of all, that is none of your business. Secondly, if that is, in fact, why a woman wants birth control, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that if everyone is consenting. You go girl! And finally, sex is not the only reason a woman would choose birth control. Hormones like progestin and estrogen, commonly found in birth control pills, can decrease a woman’s chance for ovarian cysts, regulate the menstrual cycle and clear up acne, among many other things. And yes, birth control does prevent pregnancy too. And why shouldn’t it? People like to have fun and accidents can happen. People also want to have a career, travel the world, fall in love, get married and more before they settle down to have children. Birth control is a sign of responsibility, not carelessness.
So, why aren’t more people celebrating? I’ll tell you why; it’s because we still live in a culture where women are branded by their sexuality. The mere fact that this argument needs to be made should tell you something. Medical professionals are actively detailing the medical benefits and uses of birth control based on scientific fact. Facts are not opinions; they cannot be argued. Why, then, are they? If it’s because people feel some sick desire to control how a woman dictates her life, they need to re-evaluate theirs. If it’s because people are afraid of change, that’s absurd. Change is inevitable, and, in this case, overall acceptance of birth control and thus further advocacy for women’s rights is a positive one.
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