Thirty-five years ago, on Jan. 21, 1973, women in the United States of America were not legally in control of their body’s reproduction. On Jan. 22, 1973, a monumental Supreme Court decision was released, and positively affected the lives of countless men, women and children nationwide. Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, a passionate advocate for accurate education, affordable health care and a provider of direct clinical services to people of all kinds, brought Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America to speak at the Valley River Inn on Jan. 17, 2008.
Richards reminded all of us of all the important things that Planned Parenthood does for people worldwide. She cited that 97% of the health care services it provides are not related to abortion; in fact, it provides preventative breast exams, STI tests, PAP smears, and general health care for people who otherwise would be left without medical attention. The Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 finally allowed women’s bodies to fully become their own property, property over which they were given sole control, and due to the huge amounts of time volunteers have spent campaigning and demonstrating to maintain the right to choose, my generation has never experienced life without choice.
Thank you to all the people who work, volunteer, protest, write letters, phone bank and freely think about the importance of choice in our current society. Because of awareness around reproductive justice we have made huge strides as a society in the direction of more comprehensive contraception options, an HPV vaccine, and a concrete ability to choose when, how and with whom to have children.
I urge everyone this week to think about how the right to choose impacts you or your loved ones. Talk to your parents or grandparents about life before the Roe decision; ask about illegal abortions, and how many women died from infection as a result of faulty illegal abortions performed by an uncertified, untrained person. And most importantly, recognize all the ways to maintain a healthy sexuality throughout your life (if you need help staying healthy, please come see us in the University Women’s Center or at Planned Parenthood on 17th and High).
Planned Parenthood and Students for Choice at the University of Oregon extend to all a happy Roe Week, and a healthy sexuality for all your days to come! Thirty-five years ago this month, women did not legally have control of their sexuality, or reproduction. The Roe v. Wade decision was and continues to be liberating for millions of Americans. Thank you to those who fought to make this decision a reality, and to those who continue to fight today. Happy 35th Birthday, Choice!
Katie Hulse is a student at the University’s Clark Honors College, and Co-Director of UO Students for Choice.