Women’s suffrage, women’s service in the military and moreover the whole gamut of family planning have at one point been opposed by conservatives.
More specifically, social conservatives have stood in the way of every progressive advancement toward equality regardless of race or gender. However, conservatives’ recently renewed war on women’s rights reminds us of their past obstructions and how wrong they were then and, once again, how wrong they are now.
As recently as 2010, Senate Republicans opposed fair pay. They voted unanimously against the Paycheck Fairness Act, and not one Republican co-sponsored the bill. The act would have ensured women equal pay and even more footing in the courts for discrimination.
Flash forward to 2012 and the current Republican presidential candidates are still fighting against women’s rights. All remaining candidates say they will defund Planned Parenthood, which gives almost 2 million cancer screenings per year for middle and low-income women.
Rick Santorum, Republican presidential candidate and self-proclaimed social conservative guru, not only wants to defund Planned Parenthood but, according to CNN, he disagrees with the progressive decision the Pentagon made last week, which opens up higher standing military jobs and the front lines of combat to women. Santorum said women do not have the emotional stability to serve there.
Take Republican Senator and 70-year-old white male Jon Kyl speaking about Planned Parenthood, for example. He is quoted by Politifact as saying, “If you want an abortion, you go to Planned Parenthood, and that’s well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.” This is quite contradictory in regards to facts, but in regards to elderly white Republican men in Congress, it makes perfect sense. Let’s take a closer look at the facts.
According to MediaMatters and Planned Parenthood’s own statistics, 83 percent of services are to prevent unintended pregnancy, and by extension, abortions. Only 3 percent of its services are for abortions, and because of the Hyde Amendment in 1976, taxpayers’ money does not go to abortions except in cases of rape or incest. That 3 percent is out of nearly 11.4 million services provided by Planned Parenthood to women each year (Planned Parenthood measures in “services provided” instead of dollars).
The opposition does not stop at Planned Parenthood. A recent decision by the Obama Administration to make contraceptives, like birth control, free to women through their workplace, health-plans or insurance has caused huge controversy.
Conservatives have attacked President Barack Obama, saying this mandate will impede on religious freedoms, mainly of Catholics who oppose contraception. Not only that, but Republicans are expected to introduce legislation stating that any company can deny any health service to women. Santorum even said states have the right to outlaw contraception.
The uproar from conservatives is confusing for several reasons.
First off, 28 states already require contraception to be covered. Secondly, Obama is mandating that insurance agencies pay for the contraception, but not the churches. This means the church will not have to provide contraception if they disagree with it, but women can still receive the needed birth control for free through their health plan. Lastly, according to the Guttmacher Institute, 98 percent of Catholic women have used contraception. Even the Public Religion Research Institute found that a majority of Catholics support the plan, including Sister Carol Keehan, head of the Catholic Health Organization.
If most Catholic women use it and most Catholics support it, why is there an uproar from Republicans?
Probably for the same reasons Republicans voted against the Fair Pay Act, have fought against women serving in the military, want to defund Planned Parenthood and, according to Gallop Polls, why almost twice as many women identify themselves as Democrats rather than Republicans.
In a generation known for its rapid progression in science, technology and social issues, where same-sex marriage is quickly becoming constitutional and gays can openly serve their country, it is astonishing to think that there are those who wish to not only deter progress, but in fact, retrogress to a time where this type of discrimination was tolerable.
