Week 10: Weekly Response Ann Arnett

A woman’s reproductive rights have always been a source of controversy. In the 1900s, women had less access to birth control and abortions, but they had more control over the birthing process and held more knowledge than hospitals that were just beginning to offer services for births. As more women began to turn to hospitals for births, they lost control over the birthing process and safe procedures. When going to the hospitals, women endured unnecessary procedures and drugs that were meant to “help” the process. Women also had no control over a choice of birth control, or they faced discrimination over who could obtain birth control. Women of minorities often were given sterilization procedures without knowing what was happening to them. As time has progressed, we as a society have grown out of some of these. We no longer force sterilization procedures among women, although insurance does cover these whereas it doesn't always cover birth control. Hospitals are working to give women more control over the birthing process. The major debate of reproductive rights in today’s society is abortion and birth control. Donald Trump and republicans are planning to defund Planned Parenthood, insurance to stop coverage of birth control, and to ban abortions. These things will take away from the woman’s choice of what she can do with her own body, as well as restrict her access to reproductive health care. Americans must work to protect rights for reproductive health.