I wasn’t aware there was any sort of resistance or stigma surrounding birth control (outside of ultra-religious circles). Maybe it’s just the culture where I grew up – pacific northwest – but most women actively seek to get on the pill as early as possible, often lying to their parents about why they want it to mask the fact of their wanting to have more convenient and baby-free sex.

>>>The topic of this post has been on my mind for some time due to hearing this sort of resistance from female friends over the years. It may be a regional thing, who knows. Also, this post helped spur me to write it (from Gone Savage)

http://gonesavage.blogspot.com/2009/07/anti-depressants-and-pill.html

Typical non-sex reasons for getting on the pill include: increased breast size, amelioration of acne, a regular (predictable) period, fewer/less intense cramps, etc.

>>>Thanks for pointing this out, I’ve only heard of the acne one personally.

Your argument, simplified, that if you’re worried about affecting your body with hormones from one source you should be worried about it from all sources, I think, is justified.

>>>That about sums it up. Although I would add to clarify, the argument is more along the lines of looking at the combination of things women are already doing to alter their hormone levels, before demonizing a pill (that does not equal the damage they already do to themselves, unknowingly, from daily habits, IMO).

However I disagree with your use of birth control as its vehicle and the premise that women (other than a small minority) are against taking birth control. (And to any who are, simply read that list of non-sexual reasons for getting on the pill; you’ll have them at “larger breasts.”)

In my experience (and judging from the prolific advertising for products such as Yaz) there is no stigma surrounding the use of hormone based birth control.

>>>Well, again, it may be more of a regional thing, or on the flip side I just catch wind of these conversations more since I’m always tuned into exercise, nutrition, health and so on. In fact it probably comes up in conversation a lot with simply because its always on my mind. So, perhaps the stigma is not wide spread, but from my life experience, it is there (in the college setting, in florida at least).

An interesting argument I’d consider taking on would be if hormonal birth control reinforces the culturally accepted norm of the monogamous relationship. The usual argument being “when you’re with just one faithful person, you don’t need condoms because you can trust that both of you are disease free.” Interesting to think about.

>>>Yeah Ive seen that discussed before. I may blog about it someday since I tend to agree with your thinking on the subject (well, based off what you just wrote and hinting at).

thanks again for commenting, cya soon man

-Anthony

Your argument, simplified, that if you’re worried about affecting your body with hormones from one source you should be worried about it from all sources, I think, is justified. However I disagree with your use of birth control as its vehicle and the premise that women (other than a small minority) are against taking birth control. (And to any who are, simply read that list of non-sexual reasons for getting on the pill; you’ll have them at “larger breasts.”) In my experience (and judging from the prolific advertising for products such as Yaz) there is no stigma surrounding the use of hormone based birth control.

Any resistance to easy and nearly 100% effective birth control (often times FREE as well) is most likely based on ignorant assumptions born of poor sexual education. Build knowledge to fight ignorance, not arguments based on contradictions in thought processes and logic (not that, assuming your premises are correct, this is a bad argument in any way. It’s quite sound.)

An interesting argument I’d consider taking on would be if hormonal birth control reinforces the culturally accepted norm of the monogamous relationship. The usual argument being “when you’re with just one faithful person, you don’t need condoms because you can trust that both of you are disease free.” Interesting to think about.

The Tibetan monks comment wasn’t the most well though out idea in the world, but the idea I was trying to get across is that there are no ancient cultures that were purely vegetarian. Man has eaten meat, fish, fowl, the organs of these animals, eggs, insects, and so on for millions of years without exception. As a result, the nutrients in these foods play an important role in maintaining hormone levels.

Jackie I’m glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for the tweet!

-Anthony

awesome article. I’m gonna tweet it loud!!!
GWNN

Ive read articles and blogs that are writing about the same things and that the only way pure Vegetarianism will become a considered by people is if it becomes ‘fashionable’.