I recently posted a link to the "Sign the Petition: Remove the Economic Barrier to Birth Control" blog that was posted earlier this week on my facebook page to encourage my friends to sign it.

I had many friends who "liked" it, commented that they had signed it, and even reposted it to their facebook. I was so proud of my friends who stood up for the injustice we see around us everyday, because its impossible to consistently use birth control if you can't afford it. I believe that the solution to our unplanned pregnancy problem is making birth control available and affordable.

Unfortunately, I also had a "friend" comment that this was stupid and wasteful, because it would be spending his tax dollars to pay for birth control that "stupid, irresponsible, forgetful girls" wouldn't even use consistently. According to his personal experience, "girls" can't be trusted to take the pill everyday, and this is why we have an unplanned pregnancy problem, because girls are dumb. Even when I suggested other forms of birth control, like IUDs which can last for five years with little maintenence and are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, he still argued that "girls" wouldn't remember to go get one in the first place.

First of all, as a WOMAN who has been consistently taking a hormonal birth control pill for four years now, this is offensive, we are perfectly capable of taking a pill every day. In fact, I know many women who take their pill every day.  They're also capable of discussing current events, reading, driving, voting, and other things men have claimed women can't do in the past.

Secondly, this puts the blame of pregnancy exclusively on women, which is wrong. I know most sex education classes don't actually explain reproduction (which is another issue), but it does in fact take a woman AND a man to reproduce. Why didn't the man in these situations have a conversation with his partner about her birth control use and use a condom as a back up contraceptive (crucial to prevent the transmission of STDs, also not taught in sex ed). 

Third, a woman's decision to use birth control is a complicated decision. It is so important that a woman discuss what option is best for her considering her family planning, financial, and health situation at the time with both her gyno and her partner. Not every method of contraception works for every woman. Some women have bad reactions to IUDs, some hormonal pills can cause nausea, and some women have continuous breakthrough bleeding or spotting while on the shot. 

Stating that women get pregnant because they are dumb, is not only dangerous, ignorant, and offensive it is also just plain WRONG. When women are provided with a full array of family planning options that are affordable, it only increases their ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies. It is crucial that we continue to fight for affordable birth control, and continue to educate our peers about the importance of birth control and different contraceptive methods. Most important, young women must be encouraged to talk with their partners and doctors about pregnancy prevention to come up with a plan that works for them.