Women struggling with cuts to family planning clinics

[Rose Siding]

Tanya Wilson is overdue for her birth control shot and doesn't think her car could make it to the nearest clinic, which is now an hour away in Amarillo.

Funding changes bring hard times to W. Texas family planning services


BORGER - Through her divorce and the struggles of raising three girls on her salary at the Sonic Drive-In, there was one thing in Tanya Wilson's life that came easy.

Every three months, Wilson drove to the Planned Parenthood in her Panhandle hometown to get a birth control shot for free, most times with little or no wait. It was a great relief for a 34-year-old woman who didn't want any more children but lacked money for a tubal ligation.

Suddenly in January, her relief turned to stress. Wilson was among hundreds of patients across 17 counties who learned that the clinic they relied on for birth control, annual exams, Pap tests, breast cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease tests and other services was closing because of funding cuts triggered by two little-known provisions tucked into the state's budget last session.
....
The new provisions have ignited a wildfire of protests from women's rights advocates and lawmakers who fear that the funding cuts have further eroded access to basic women's health care in a state that already ranks 45th in family planning, according to a recent study by the Guttmacher Institute.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3748639.html

[napi21]

1. Have the Women's Clinics ever publicized all the services they provide?

As you said in your post, they offer birth control, annual exams, Pap tests, breast cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease tests and other services.

I ask this because I believe the fundies have promoted these clinics as doing NOTHING but abortions!

I knew they offered such things as pregnancy tests and other exams because years ago, a woman I worked with, who was trying to get pregnant, used to stop at a clinic every time she "Thought" she might be, and came back to work this one day ALL EXCITED that she her husband were finally expecting! She went to the clinic because this was before the OTC test kits, and she couldn't afford the Dr. visits all the time. But I'm sure, if I hadn't had that experience, even I wouldn't realize how many services these clinics offer.

[Ilsa]

3. I was in a loan committee meeting once, and a loan for an OB/GYN

and his health clinic was being discussed. One of the directors was all worried that the doctor might provide "those services". One of the women on the committee made an issue of asking him "which services are you referring to? They provide exams, prenatal care, pap smears, etc" and he replied "abortions." She told him politely that abortions are legal medical proceedures and we wouldn't be allowed to restrict him in that manner in his loan agreement. We approved the loan anyway over his objection.

That director, btw, owned businesses that sold porn.

[Ilsa]

2. "I would argue that it could have conceivably helped."

Yeah, conception is what this is all aobut isn't it? Why not put red burkas on these women just like in ... oh nevermind. I'm going to get my checkbook and send Planned Parenthood a check.

FQHC: in others words, they won't tell a distressed pregnant woman anything about her termination options, will they. And as far as PP clinics not covering al the bases, it seems to me that they do as much as my OB/GYN does in his private office: labs, exams, physicals, etc. Camacho's argument is bogus, IMO.

[napi21]

4. Why are you barking at me? I'm trying to help PP here!

I really believe that all the fundies, and perhapse a lot of others THINK the only thing PP does is abortions! It's BECAUSE the RW has been very vocal and convincing when they always SAY THAT! They don't even call them "Women's Clinics"! They call them "ABORTION CLINICS"!

I'm just saying we need to be just as vocal at EXPLAINING all the services PP provides!

[Ilsa]

5. What are you talking about? I'm not barking at you. I don't even

think I'm disagreeing with you. You are right that PP needs to be more vocal in explaining all the services they provide. "Women's clinics" was what this man called them.

Sorry if I upset you with my miscommunication. Maybe the reply should have been a reply to the OP. This thought of women not even being able to get paps and OC and other contraception without driving a hundred miles because of these nuts makes me so angry that I want to shake those legislators.

[crikkett]

6. OT question here

who puts their women in red burkas and why? I thought burkas were blue or black or white, for prayer.

Thanks,
Crikkett

[Demeter]

7. Isn't That From The Handmaid's Tale by Atwood?

I think I recall that detail.

[Ilsa]

9. THanks, yeah, that was what I was poorly alluding to. eom

[Ilsa]

8. The red burkas-style dress was used in The Handmaiden's Tale

for the young women who were still fertile and who would be impregnated and their babies given to wealthy couples in power.

My apologies. I shouldn't have been so vague. And maybe "burka" isn't the best word for what they were wearing, but I couldn't think of anything else to compare it to.

[crikkett]

10. oh oh OH, i forgot.

:dunce: