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PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE ABORTION DEBATE

The legality of abortion has been debated since the thirteenth century. It has gone from
being illegal; punishable by hanging, to legal for any reason within the first trimester and under
certain conditions during the last two trimesters. Each step taken was driven by determined
individuals and organizations that were concerned with Womens mental and physical wellbeing.
The first step forward was when England and the United States
recognized that in some cases abortion was necessary to save the mothers
life, soon after that there were laws put into place allowing abortion for

Did You Know

The United States

has the highest teen
pregnancy rate
among the worlds
developed nations.

According to the
U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention, more
than three million
teen girls have a
sexually transmitted
infection. Thats at
least one in four.

Half of sexually
active young people
in the U.S. will
contract a sexually
transmitted
infection by age 25.

Approximately
750,000 teenagers
in the United States
will become
pregnant this year.

numerous health reasons and for victims of incest and/or rape. In 1973
the famous Roe v. Wade case convinced the Supreme Court that
prohibiting abortion was a violation of a womans privacy. Despite the 7
to 2 majority vote the legality and morality of the situation continues to
be challenged. (Geraldine and Wagner)
In the 42 years since the Roe v. Wade ruling, Planned Parenthood
has championed womens right to choose if parenthood is right for them
and if the answer is no, the right to access abortion in a safe, legal,
compassionate and affordable health care setting. Planned Parenthood
does not only offer abortion access, their primary goal is prevention and
reducing the number of unintended pregnancies. Their other services
include access to Family Planning, Sex Education and National Policy
Positions.

Schofield

(Planned Parenthood Action Council)

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amily Planning includes

access to birth control,
affordable health care and

support groups and programs. In 2009,

ex Education program promotes

the teaching of responsible, age
appropriate, medically accurate

sex education, including information about

34% of Utah women reported their childs

both abstinence and contraception in public

birth was the result of an unintended

schools. This education is seen as an

pregnancy (Planned Parenthood Action

investment in Utahs health because

Council). This percentage is one reason

providing sex education allows students to

why making health care more accessible and

avoid pregnancy and stay in school, staying

affordable is a main focus of the program.

in school and avoiding teen pregnancy aids

The health care services provided are also

in ending intergenerational poverty that is

directly reducing the need for abortion.

created by a teen mothers need of public

2014 Services

million state tax dollars on births resulting

32,053 1,333
36,930

assistance. In 2008, Utah alone spent 30

100,432

Birth Control

STD Screenings

Cancer & Prevention

Abortion & Vasectomy

from unintended pregnancies.

Programs and Education Provided

Growing Up Comes First (GUCF): An age appropriate, medically accurate maturation
program for 9 12 year olds and their parents or caregivers.
Wyman TOP (Teen Outreach Program) : TOP clubs meet weekly over a 25 week period
and follow the Changing Scenes curriculum to promote healthy behavior, a sense of
purpose and implement community service learning programs.

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Cudate: An HIV prevention curric ulum for Latino youth ages 12 18. The program
teaches negotiation skills, health information and uses cultural values to promote health
and safety.
Making A Difference: An abstinence based curriculum for youth ages 11 13. The
program includes goals and dreams, accurate HIV and STD information, skills building,
and decision making.
Making Proud Choices: A comprehensive curriculum for youth ages 11 13. The program
includes accurate HIV and STD information, goal setting, condom negotiation, refusal
skills and decision making.
All 4 You: A theory based curriculum designed to reduce sexual risk behaviors associated
with HIV, other STDs, and unintended pregnancy. All 4 You is for youth ages 14 18.
Safe at School: An anti-harassment/anti-bullying program offered for educators and
others who work with youth.
(Planned Parenthood Action Council)

ational Policy Positions

circumstances surrounding a decision to end

provide up to date political

a pregnancy, they would be more likely to

hot button social issues and

support it. The overall goal is to end the

the position Planned Parenthood is taking on

abortion stigma and remove this personal

each. One of their current campaigns

decision from the political topic arena. The

encourages women to share their story

fact is that 1 in 3 women will have an

surrounding their incredibly personal

abortion in their lifetime and without

decision to have an abortion. The CEO of

programs such as these the probability of

Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards

illegal procedures, infection and permanent

believes that if the public hears about the

damage to a women increases.

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There are many reasons why the abortion stigma exists, abortion is defined as
the act of removing a human embryo or fetus from the uterus of a pregnant woman
prior to the completion of the full term pregnancy (Geraldine and Wagner). Just
the thought of that causes a moral dilemma in many. The Pro-Life debaters are not
necessarily wrong in their quest to preserve life. This moral debate will most likely
never subside, but there may be a common ground if one can accept that the idea of
Pro-Choice isnt synonymous with Pro -Abortion and that Pro-Life may simply mean
there is another way. The best way for pregnant women to decide w hat the best
choice is for their specific situation is to gather all the information possible when
making this life altering decision of bringing a child into the world or not.

For more information visit a Planned Parenthood near you.

Schofield

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Works Cited
Deckha, Maneesha. "Legislating Respect: A Pro-Choice Feminist Analysis Of Embryo Research Restictions
in Canada." Mcgill Law Journal 58.1 (2012): 199-236.
Geraldine, Alex K and Rich Wagner. "Abortion Debate." Salem Press Encyclopedia (2015). Web.
Manninen, Bertha Alverez. Pro-Life, Pro-Choice: Shared Values in The Abortion Debate. Nashville:
Vanderbilt University Press, 2014. eBook Collection(EBSCOhost).
Planned Parenthood Action Council. ppacutah.org. 2013. 29 August 2015.
Pollitt, Katha. "Questions For Pro-Lifers." Nation (2014): 6-8. web.
Warnes, Kathy, PhD. "United States Pro-Choice Movement."." Salem Press Encyclopedia (2014). Web.

Schofield