Author Archive
June 19th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
Lately, it seems I can’t turn around without another news snippet abut how health care reform is going to happen now. In every snippet one side or the other is discussion whether there is a problem, how to solve it and how the solution will help or harm the American people. My personal favorite is the question, “Will health care reform lead to socialism in America?” I am intrigued by this whole process. But part of me just wishes we could get on with it already.
I’m old enough to remember the “first” go round at health care reform back in 1993. At the time, I believed that everyone had health insurance through work (like my parents) and I couldn’t fathom why the government couldn’t just give health care to the few people who didn’t have it. (As a note to my readers, at the time I applied this same level of understanding to the provision of other basic need items like food, shelter, clothing and the latest Nirvana and Pearl Jam CDs. I was, after all, 11.) This time around, I know that we can’t wait another sixteen years to try again and that we have to figure out more than how to pay for it.
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2 Comments • Posted in: Policy
June 4th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
As seemingly everyone knows, Dr. Tiller, a Kansas gynecologist, was killed on Sunday because he was willing to provide abortion services. I never met Dr. Tiller, but I am familiar with his work. I work for a family planning agency in Wisconsin that is prohibited form providing medical referrals for abortion services. This makes providing information to patients seeking such services a challenge, but we manage to thread the needle.
As a result, I understand that health care workers who make abortion services available are everyday heroes. But Dr. Tiller was different.
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No Comments • Posted in: Abortion
April 23rd, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
For a number of years, advocates for reproductive health care and for the empowerment of young people have been warning about the dangers of Abstinence-Only Sexuality Education. As predicted, years after heavily funding this initiative to deny people, particularly young people, accurate information about reproductive health topics, we are beginning to see an up tick in the number of teen pregnancies, births and sexually transmitted infections. SIECUS released it’s State Profiles: A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States for Fiscal Year 2008. It’s a fascinating and complete look at what kind of sex ed is happening and the related health outcomes.
Coincidentally, Tara Malone of the Chicago Tribune took a look at the issue in Illinois which ranks fourth in receipt of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage funds. Her article, Sex ed: Abstinence-only programs under review, is a great read on the tough challenges that state faces. As we see increasing numbers of teen pregnancies, births, and sexually transmitted infections, more communities are discussing the sex ed programs in their communities. In my community, I know we have a curriculum for sex ed, but it’s hard to find out if it is being taught district wide. What’s happening in your community?
No Comments • Posted in: Sex Ed
April 10th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
On Wednesday, the Heritage Foundation came out with its “Dirty Dozen.” The list, by Jennifer A. Marshall and Katherine Bradley, outlines what they believe are the 12 most egregious things the Obama Administration and Congress shave done since taking office in January. I was shocked that only 5 or 42% of the list directly named a policy change that supported comprehensive reproductive health. You can bump that up to 50% if you count embryonic stem cell research as a reproductive health issue and if you include their slam on welfare reform that total can be edged up to 58%. I was also surprised that reproductive health wasn’t mentioned until #3. (Then I realized that the Heritage Foundation has a financial stake in numbers 1 &2 and was no longer surprised.)
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No Comments • Posted in: Policy
March 30th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
Dino Corvino, our podcaster extraoridnaire, is out in New York for the Raising Women’s Voices National Speak Out and Conference. Before we sent him off to pack, he asked me to share this with you.
This week is an exciting week for me. Through my work at Below The Waist, work I love to do by the way, I am getting the chance to go to New York City and attend the national “Speak Out” hosted by Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need.
I will be in New York City for the rest of the week and will have a chance to meet and learn from som of the greatest leaders and advocates in this field. I really could not be more excited for the chance.
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No Comments • Posted in: Action, Policy
March 29th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
Today we had some of the world’s smallest, happiest, and politest protesters. Everyone should smile for the camera.
No Comments • Posted in: Abortion, Action, Birth Control
March 21st, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
History Month [21:48m]
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I was born in 1982 on the day before Roe v. Wade’s 9th Anniversary. I’ve never lived in an America where it wasn’t possible for a woman to choose safe and legal abortion. I’ve heard stories of what it was like before 1973, but to me it seemed more like a fairytale from the Dark Ages than the reality of a few decades ago. In honor of Women’s History Month, I sat down with Mary Ann. Mary Ann was a nurse in a critical care unit before 1973. She saw and tried to save women dying from illegal and unsafe abortion. In this podcast, she shares with us what that was like and her hopes for the future of women’s health. We also spoke to Rachel Benson Gold about reproductive health care in America. In that conversation, she discussed where we need to go from here. We included that portion of the conversation here as a reminder of what we can do to avoid repeating the pain of our past.
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March 19th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
Today after I took my pictures to document the 40 Days for Life demonstration at our clinic, one of the demonstrators flagged me over. Here’s the conversation we had:
Me: “Can I help you?”
Demonstrator: “You were taking pictures. Why?”
Me: “We document things that happen near the clinic.”
Demonstrator: “Usually you need permission to take someone’s picture.”
Me: “It’s our policy to document things that happen near the clinic.”
Demonstrator: “It seems intrusive.”
Me: “I’m sorry.”
I found this exchange ironic on many levels.
1 Comment • Posted in: Action
March 10th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
Today we had to ask one of the protesters to move his truck out of our parking lot. I understand that it’s inconvenient to have to walk a few blocks, but I’d rather inconvenience him than the parents coming into our WIC clinic who need to negotiate strollers and car carriers. This time of year, you never know when the temperature is going to change and the sidewalks will suddenly turn into skating rinks. I’m very grateful that to date this is the largest inconvenience we’ve encountered. I’m hopeful things will continue to be respectful.
No Comments • Posted in: Action, Family Planning
March 10th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
It is somewhat surprising the number of families we’ve seen praying outside the clinic. Prior to the campaign, we saw one family on a regular basis, but now there are a few. I’m a little challenged when it comes to the issue of the kids. This summer one of the children was quite adamant about not wanting to be protesting (praying) because it was boring. These kids seem to be praying, but I have to repress the desire to bring them some hot tea and a basketball.
No Comments • Posted in: Action, Family Planning
