In response to Brent Heit (Gazette, April 14), I would like to point out a few damaging and extremely problematic discourses that underline his view on contraceptives.
Birth control is one of the most important medical inventions of our time as it has allowed women and men of all ages one very important thing: choice. The capacity to choose when one is ready to have children – if they even want them at all – has become a fundamental human right.
To suggest that contraceptives should not be used because it sullies the “unification of a married couple” and causes the objectification of women further implies that sex is literally only for the purpose of producing children. However, this is not true. To say that a women’s sexual activity is just for procreating inherently ties a women’s role to her ability to be a mother and limits her ownership of her body. Motherhood is a beautiful and vital role that many women chose to fulfill, but the important thing is that they get to choose it. Contraceptives grant women this capacity to choose when and if this role is right for them.
Furthermore, contraceptives have allowed women to enter the workforce in greater numbers and pursue careers of their choosing. Women can now decide how many children they want to have and when they want to have them, which affords them the opportunity to develop their professional life and goals. Even women who are married or who have already had children benefit from contraceptive use because if a female has not yet experienced menopause, she is still capable of becoming pregnant. Therefore, if one wants to solve unwanted pregnancies, providing sexual health information and affordable contraceptives is indeed the answer.
Not to mention all the health risks and problems, such as endometriosis, that can be treated with contraceptives. There may be a whole host of reasons a women chooses to use birth control and I do not think it is the place of the church (or anyone else for that matter) to make that decision for her. Mr. Heit’s argument that contraceptives objectify women is a reflection of an old societal view that a women’s only purpose is to procreate. Women deserve to be able to experience sexual fulfillment without the risk of a child.
Children are expensive, require love, proper care and a safe environment, which not all women are able to provide for kids. Contrary to what Mr. Heit has expressed, the cornerstone of our democratic society is not the family, it is freedom. To demonize contraceptive use threatens this freedom.
Siobhan Scantland, St. Albert
