The conservative crusade against women’s health
There seems to be a trend among the Republican Party regarding women's health: they don't care for it. It isn't as if this is anything new or surprising in itself, but what is astounding is the number of bills that have come up in state legislatures that would severely hinder a woman's right to choose whether or not she is pregnant.
Last Tuesday, a fetal personhood amendment passed through the Virgina House. This bill would define a "person" as existing from the moment of fertilization. In addition, the bill would require that women go through a transvaginal screening procedure before getting an abortion.
The passage of this amendment is problematic for several reasons. First, it obviously attempts to deny women control over their reproductive system. If a woman doesn't want to become a mother, she should be able to have the reasonable option of ending her pregnancy. (I won't say any more about this; the arguments for and against abortion are best left for another column.)
Second, the requiring of a transvaginal ultrasound is wrong for two reasons. First, displaying the image of a woman's uterus is a clear ploy to try to psychologically coerce women into changing their minds about getting an abortion. This is already an extremely tough decision for many women, and it's insulting to assume that they are unaware of the implications of that decision. And second, the fact that this ultrasound must be transvaginal is essentially state-sanctioned rape. An internal ultrasound is medically unnecessary for an abortion, and forcing a woman to go through such a procedure is wrong, and even possibly traumatizing for women who have been victims of sexual assault.
more: http://www.northern-iowan.org/the-conservative-crusade-against-women-s-health-1.2703340
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