*Disclaimer*: What is
written here in no way represents my actual opinions. To rebut this argument
was simply the assignment, and it had to be done.
This
essay was very good, but there are a few issues with the contentions made. For
one thing, women not being able to buy birth control pills over the counter has
nothing to do with gender inequality. Birth control pills let a woman’s family
know what is going on. She is, after all, the bearer of the child. If a family
has issues with their daughter having sex, then this is a family issue, not the
fault of pharmacies for keeping their contraceptive pills off the counter. But
why can’t women keep the same level of sexual discrepancy with their family as
men? No matter the gender, family should know
if there is a chance of gaining a new member, right? Unfortunately though,
with males it is difficult to regulate their buying of sexual contraceptives.
Condoms are not prescriptions, by definition. If there was a “spermicide pill”
that men could take, then surely it would also be a prescription, and a doctor
would have to explain to them the possible dangers of these pills.
People
cannot be forced to tell their family things when there is no other good reason
to do so, and women are not forced to tell their families anything. This is because there are other effective methods of preventing birth, some of which are sold over the
counter. Some of these OTC options are
female condoms, contraceptive sponges, and of course the morning-after pill.[1]
If one really does not want to get a prescription for the pill, then they can
always go for something else. A woman can feel in control and free with all of
these other options.
Another
problem with OTC birth control pills is the cost. If the pill were to go on the
shelves, it could be unaffordable for many women on Medicaid whose
prescriptions are now covered.[2]
This would lead to less people using
birth control and as a result there would be more accidental births. And, as
Dana said, the pill is also used to treat other ailments in women. Not being
able to afford these benefits would be unfair, and could even be viewed as
sexist. People being able to afford the pill is crucial, but so long as changes
aren’t being made to Medicaid or other health care providers, the pill should
be kept off the shelf to keep it that way.
But
what really matters in the end is health. Throughout Dana’s argument condoms
and birth control pills were compared. Frankly, though, this is comparing
apples to oranges as one is a medication,
with possible dangers and side effects, while the other is a physical object that goes outside your body.
You’d have to try to hurt yourself
with a condom to get the same dangers the pill has. It increases the risk of
breast cancer (especially among younger women, such as the 50% of high school
students mentioned earlier), cervical cancer, and liver tumors.[3]
Not all people would be willing to talk
with their doctor about these possible side effects if the pill were to become
OTC. While nearly all drugs have these kinds of risks, birth control is
different. It may be an old fashioned idea, but bringing a human being into
this world is an important thing that should be taken seriously. If birth
control should fail, or not be used correctly, the consequences could change
the users and the user’s family’s life forever. In short, it is a big deal, one
that people should know as much as possible about. In conclusion, the pill
should be kept off the counter for several reasons. For one, it keeps it
affordable, giving everyone equal access to birth control. Secondly, there are
other OTC methods for women’s contraceptives, making it unnecessary to put it
on the counter. And finally, doctors should let couples know the possible
dangers of these pills and inform them of the responsibility of what could
happen if they were to fail.
[3]
Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives
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