Birth Control Without Parental Permission
Essay by review • May 4, 2011 • Essay • 777 Words (4 Pages) • 2,593 Views
Birth control is an issue that has puzzled our morality for years. When younger adults, teenagers begin to use it, it becomes an even larger controversy. Through this our human nature must comprehend the problem, act upon it, and therefore take a stand that might occasionally conflict with our personal beliefs. Yet, birth control continues to strive during a period where people of the world neglect to analyze there own actions and accepting the fact that personal dealings seem to reflect their true inner beliefs.
When asked, one adult and mother of three said,” I believe it is wonderful that teens can take responsibility and protect themselves, it’s the 21st century and if people can’t take that in then they need a reality check. Why wait until your daughter turns up pregnant to then think about what you could have done to help prevent it”. Teenagers are going to have sex whether or not it's appropriate or acceptable for them to do so. Then, the most we can hope for is that they have safe protected sex to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
If we put barriers in the way of teenagers such as parental consent for birth control then they will simply take greater risks, rather than stop having sex. Teens in a variety of circumstances would be affected if required to obtain parental consent for contraception. A minor who buys condoms at a pharmacy could be turned away without parental consent, causing him or her to have unprotected sex without thinking of the consequences.
If a minor is fearful about discussing contraception with a parent, there is no difference between вЂ?telling’ the parent and getting parental permission. Parental contact requirements discourage teens from seeking contraception, even though they may already be sexually active. Confidentiality can be a determining factor for teens deciding whether or not to seek contraceptive protection. Approached by this topic, a high school student although not sexually active stated “These arguments are out of touch with reality. If you don’t take control of your own actions, you can’t expect to take control of the outcome.”
Many young women live in nontraditional situations, houses with one parent, a step-parent, other relatives such as grandparents, or even on their own. Contact with biological parents or both legal guardians, if required by law, may be impossible. Some teens face violence or other severe consequences from parents as a result of informing their parents that they are seeking contraceptive services and also minors fearful of facing violence from their parents or other family members may also forgo using contraceptive all together. Teens who seek contraceptive services are generally sexually active already.
Minors have a right to privacy, although many adults believe otherwise.
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