Who’s To Blame for the Ambiguity?

Have you ever realized how much we learned after high school? About anything and everything, really. From social standpoints, like sexuality and personal identity, to even kinesthetic topics. Could it be the change in pace after graduation? Could it be the transition to college? Is it the non-conscious growing sense of openness after moving away from mom and dad? Is it all of the above? I don’t really have the answer, however, it’s likely that it’s more deeply rooted than that. Discussing Chikako Takeshita’s The Global Biopolitics of the IUD has opened my eyes a bit more, and brought on a few revelations - especially when sexuality/sex education was first introduced to me (particularly throughout chapter one). It makes me think of a time when I was in 5th grade; a day I somehow remember vividly. The boys and girls of the whole grade were put into different rooms. In the room with all of the other Newlonsburg Elementary 5th grade boys, a teacher stood at the very front and said: “When you get older, you start to stink. Use this and don’t stink.” The teacher then proceeded to give us all individually sealed packets containing a mini-deodorant stick and a small booklet (which I discovered was book explaining male puberty at a later date). This teacher then took us out for an extra recess session, however the girls did not join us. When we came back inside those said female classmates seemed different - even slightly skittish. Looking back, I now realize that the girls received a far more detailed talk on puberty, including a discussion on menstruation. I can’t help but wonder why the boys didn’t receive even the slightest detail about puberty, when the girls had a full on discussion. Who was at fault for this? Was this female teacher too lazy to explain male puberty to 5th grade boys, or is it a lot larger and more constructed than that? But hey - at least it was some form of sex ed, right? Don’t get me wrong, I eventually went on to have more detailed health classes (which included sex education) in late middle school and early high school, which I am very grateful for. From hearing other experiences, it sounds like it’s not unheard of to get a lot less than that. However, it still doesn’t change anything in regards to this overall ambiguity.

Throughout the male sex-education courses during my time at the Franklin Regional School District, we were mostly just taught about condoms. Condoms, condoms, condoms. But I’ve learned now that’s just one option in a pool of many. Throughout discussions in multiple seminar-based class meetings, condoms can be problematic on a few different levels - so why has this male-centered contraceptive method been the go-to for so long? Takeshita (on multiple occasions) has reiterated that there are so many techniques which can be followed (especially for women) - including hormonal and barrier methods. It came as quite a shock to me to learn that IUDs are the second most common form of contraception. Not in terms of the actual fact, but just that I was unaware. She then goes into how there are all of these global impacts of the IUD (both positive and negative). Whilst reading, I couldn't help but think - shouldn’t I know this?

Recently, the the Republican Party presidential candidates have been proposing much stricter rules and regulations for abortion and female contraception. Specifically, Ted Cruz is very strong on this - however is very poor at following up on any questions directed toward this subject (more can be read/seen about this topic at http://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-ted-cruz-dodge-the-abortion-criminalization-question/). Pulling from this article, it's shocking to me that in the future, women using IUDs and those who miscarry could end up being penalized. Women should have a right to choose what happens to their body, and in terms of miscarriages, penalizing a woman for that is extreme because usually it happens naturally and is out of the control of the one carrying the fetus. I can’t help but fear that this whole ambiguity issue will just continue to get worse if one of these extremists is elected.

References:
Reisman, Sam. "Watch Ted Cruz Dodge the Abortion Criminalization Question." Mediaite Watch Ted Cruz Dodge the Abortion Criminalization Question Comments. Mediaite, 30 Mar. 2016. Web. 01 Apr. 2016. 
Takeshita, Chikako. The Global Biopolitics of the IUD: How Science Constructs Contraceptive Users and Women's Bodies. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2012. Print.