Cultures, beliefs, and practices does influence contraceptive decision making. My family believes in using all resources that are available to prevent pregnancy. My mother put me on birth control pills at the age of 16 even though she was reluctant at first. She thought her permission for pills would be agreeing to me having sex. Once she realized that a teenage daughter on birth control pills is a lot better than a teenage daughter pregnant, she agreed. My family also believes that if a young girl becomes pregnant before she is able to handle life with a child, she should have an abortion. My father even gave my brother a bag of condoms once he found out he was sexually active. If I had become pregnant before I was ready to be a mother, I would've had an abortion and my parents would've wanted me to.
Although I consider myself prochoice, I recognize that people of different backgrounds have opposite views. As I watch the popular television show "18 and Counting," this becomes apparent. This is a family of Protestants who don't believe in contraception or abortion. Their faith says that children are a gift from God and he determines how many children a woman will have. Therefore, this family has 18 children. My heart goes out to any woman who can handle 18 vaginal deliveries. I do see childbirth as a beautiful thing, but I don't believe that people should just keep having children who aren't ready. Therefore, their faith says contraception is a bad thing and mine says its okay.
Samisha
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Samisha,
ReplyDeleteI found your posting very interesting and it has brought up a few points for me. I also was placed on oral contraceptives at the age of 16. I remember telling my mother that I didn't need them, however, she insisted that I take them. My mother became pregnant with me at the age of 16, and she didn't want a repeat of an early teenage pregnancy occurring. It worked, I didn't have my first child until I was 33 years old and had been married for ten years. Also regarding the couple with 18 children, I too believe children are a gift from God, however, I also believe God gives us free will and knowledge. The "knowledge" that he has given us contraceptives to use in marriage so that we "will" not put undo stress and financial burden on our relationship.
Vikki D. Littleton
My experience is much different from your. My family did not believe in giving birth control to me or my sisters when we were young. We were raised in a very religious home and each received purity rings from my father when we turned 15. Being given this ring by my father, who I respected very much, was awesome and made a huge impression in my life. He was so passionate about the reasons that he wanted us to stay virgins till we were married and the benefits that it brings. I believe that all families make decisions based on what they think is best for them and their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteHi Samisha,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog post with interest as a glimpse into another belief different from my own. In fact, while I differ with you on abortion as an option, I also differ with “18 and counting” because I do believe in birth control. It’s apparent we live in a world of many beliefs, some on polar opposite ends; most somewhere in between. What I do feel is important is that people understood why they have a certain belief. Most times answers we hear are “Oh, this is just how my family has always believed.” Or, “That’s just our culture.” When I am asked why I am “pro-life”, I share that an unborn child is not a “potential life, but a life with potential”. When I am asked what I mean by that, I respond that many times when a woman is pregnant with an unwanted pregnancy, discussions usually are about “whether to bring the child into the world, or not.” Yet, the child is indeed “already in the world”; he/she is just hidden in a womb and unseen for the moment. The real discussion is never framed as such, for to do so would be too hard to bear “Should we let him/her continue to live?”
Dear Samisha,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is interesting and i really admire the fact that your family is so open about the use of contraception.My parents are also positive about the use of contraception and they gave me all kind of information i needed when i was a teen.As you mentioned, the people from different backgrounds have different views on the use of contraception and their decisions are sometimes decided by their society's decision and cultural beliefs. I have even seen people who think that the use of contraception is a sin and a way of obstructing the nature's phenomena. But i don't think anyone in this world want to see their teenagers being suffered from the early pregnancy issues and being ready for the abortion in their early ages and that's when i think the role of contraception is 100% positive and affirmative to all people from all kind of cultural backgrounds.So, the use of contraception is still a dilemma for a lot of people out there who do not know that millions of women are protected from unwanted pregnancy issues each and every year due to the use of different forms of contraception and men do benefits a lot from the use of contraception too.