HIV prevention in South Africa

Okay Ladies, sorry about the late post. I didn't realize it was my week to go. That being said, I was really interested by this week's discussion of the HIV/AIDS issue in Africa and more specifically, the ads and campaign to stop the spread of the disease. I know we have spent a good deal of time addressing pieces of this issue this semester, but I feel like there are still aspects to be discussed. For example, I came across a website for the promotion of HIV awareness in Africa, which had a great deal of information available. This website thouroughly discusses the causes of HIV and lists the great number of issues preventing awareness and education in Africa, including lack of availability, shame, social pressures, and specifically lack of agency in women. The website suggests that 59% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa are living with HIV or AIDS and further suggests that a good deal of this is caused by the women's distinct lack of agency within their communities and more importantly sexual lives. The website goes on to talk about the methods of AIDS education and awareness that the countries are attempting to instate, such as the ones we viewed in class, and discusses their relative successes and failures. The most interesting thing to me within the information the website gave was in the section about how to help women and girls in Africa. This section spoke of recent attempts by doctors to create a microbicide, which would be a cream or gel which can be applied to the vagina, which will block or stave off any potential HIV infection. It was suggested that this could be a possible way to get around the agency issue. What do you think of this idea? If they manage to create this microbicide, do you think that it will significantly help in the decrease of HIV in Africa, or do you think that the issues of education, availability, and agency will continue to keep this from being a viable combattant to the disease? ~Megan Moore~

Red vs. Blue and Life vs. Choice

Hello Ladies!! 

This week we have continued to address the topic of abortion and the different points of views around the world. We have specifically begun to discuss the opposing political viewpoints. I have posted some articles that provide examples which shed light on the opinions and norms of both Republican and Democratic parties below.

Before reviewing the articles reflect back on what we discussed in class on Wednesday in relevance to the different political party viewpoints (Red and Blue). What are their ideas on abortions? What reasonings can support these ideas?

The terms Pro-life and Pro-choice have been associated with the idea of abortion for years. Persons who are "Pro-life" are usually against abortions and believe that even if a baby has not been born he/she is still alive. In turn persons who are "Pro-choice" believe it is a woman's choice to decide to either continue or terminate a pregnancy. 

Do you feel that the ideas of pro-life and pro-choice are sometimes altered (changed) or remain constant given certain situations? For example, and this may be harsh, but how might others (pro-life or pro-choice) reason a woman's decision to abort after having been raped? Or how might  persons, again pro life or pro choice, reason a woman's decision to continue pregnancy after being told she will die if she continues to carry a baby?

-Tiffany Williamson

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Pro-Life-VS-Pro-Choice-Abortion-Fight-Heads-To-Indiana-Statehouse-117588153.html

http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Anti-Abortion---Pro-Life-vs--Pro-Choice/102883

Restrictions on Abortion: What is "right" and what is "wrong"

I am so sorry this post is late! In class this week we have talked about abortion and adoption and though I think adoption is an important subject, I chose to make my blog entry about abortion and the restrictions we have on it in the United States.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, twenty-two percent of all pregnancies in the United States will end in abortion. Though it is not the most popular decision for women who have an unplanned pregnancy, a significant amount of women each year are choosing abortion (in 2008, 1.21 million legal abortions were performed in the US). Abortion is also the focus of a lot of political and moral debates and because people feel so strongly for and against the issue of abortion, legislation on the procedure is usually controversial.

In an article that I read on azcentral.com titled, Ban on race-based abortions OK'd, it explained that an Arizona Rep. named Steve Montenegro had pushed for a bill to be passed in Arizona that would ban women from having abortions because they are unhappy with the race or gender of the fetus. Many are saying this idea of abortion based on race/gender can't be proved to even be happening and the state Rep. admitted to getting his information from a magazine article about the practice taking place in India and China.

In an article from foxnews.com titled, States Looking to Change Definition of Late-Term Abortion, it outlined the current laws on when a woman can have an abortion and also the soon-to-be changing laws regarding this matter. Restrictions on late-term abortion vary from state to state. In Kansas, this past Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill that will prohibit most abortions after the 21st week of a woman's pregnancy. Also, in Idaho, their Senate backed a similar proposal stating that women cannot have abortions after their 20th week of pregnancy. These bills were decided upon based on research claiming that a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks.

There are also restrictions on who can have an abortion and who has a say over the decision. Thirty-five states currently enforce parental consent or notification laws for minors seeing abortion. In states where it is mandatory to have a parent's go-ahead, what are young girls supposed to do if they don't have parents? Or if they don't have a good enough relationship with their parents to talk to them about being pregnant and being interested in abortion?

This brings up a lot of questions that I'd like to hear your opinion on:
Who do you think should get to decide what is a "good" reason to have an abortion and what is a "bad" reason? Also, when is it okay to have an abortion and when is it not? And lastly, do you agree with the restrictions on teens seeking abortion?

Sorry AGAIN that this is so late! Have a great/safe Spring Break!



The articles I read for this post:

facts on abortion in the United States

law on late-term abortion changing

abortion based on race article


-Rachel Mitts

The Challenges of Early Motherhood

Hey ladies!

In class we have been talking about the challenges of teen pregnancy and the options you have. I have found some articles on these topics that make you think of everything that comes with early motherhood.

In the past, teenage pregnancy was not only nothing unusual but it even used to be the norm. In fact, it still is in many developing countries where women often get married at a young age and have children soon afterwards. However, in the industrialized countries of today, teenage pregnancy is mostly considered as a problem, almost a tragedy. Why is that?

The main pressure on young pregnant women is, of course, to come to a decision about the unborn child, considering the options of keeping the child, adoption and abortion. Other pressures are education and money. For one, young teenage women in industrialized countries are generally expected to get educated and find work. This becomes almost impossible when having a baby without a strong social network. Then, there often are financial pressures, since the lack of education often leads to unemployment or the dependency on low paid jobs or welfare. Does it surprise you that two-thirds of teen mothers never receive their high school diploma? Do you think it would be difficult to complete your education if you had to take care of a child?

Most of the people put a lot of thought and planning before they decide they want to have children, since raising a child is an extremely difficult task, which requires a lot of psychological, physical as well financial strength. The first and most important thing about teenage pregnancies is that teenage is a very tender age, and hence teenagers lack the physical as well as psychological maturity required for conceiving children.

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be very difficult and scary for a teenager, and deciding what to do will be even harder. No matter what her political persuasion, it always comes down to a very intimate, personal decision that no teenager makes without some degree of emotional trauma. All of the options: abortion, or raising the baby, or allowing another individual to adopt the baby carries emotional pain and personal sacrifice.

What do you think would be the best way to get all of these challenges out so teens can think about these before making decisions? And do you think percents will go down if teens knew what the consequences were? Do you think teen pregnancy is a big problem in your community?

Molly Ewigman

http://www.livestrong.com/article/12457-teen-pregnancy/#ixzz1GiYK4DsJ

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-01-26-1Ateenpregnancy26_ST_N.htm