Women's Rights in Jeopardy Under the Trump Administration

Young women throughout the United States are unsure about where they will be refilling their next birth control prescription, getting relief for a UTI or receiving consultation about family planning at an affordable price. Under the Trump administration, the Title X bill is being threatened to be removed. This would cause organizations like Planned Parenthood to lose federal funding.

Planned Parenthood has been around for 97 years and has received federal assistance since 1970 when president Nixon put the Title X bill into action. President Trump threatens to have this bill removed and funding be discontinued by the government.

Women supporting women's rights. Photo courtesy of socialistworker.org

When asked if the removal of Title X would be a setback for women in the United States, Dr. Christopher Henry Hinesley, a Women and Gender studies professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology said, “Yes. A big one. Ironically, allowing this discriminatory funding practice will produce more unintended pregnancies. According to the Feminist Majority Foundation up to one million unintended pregnancies are prevented with Planned Parenthood services.”

According to Planned Parenthood, 80% of patients who receive care from their facilities use it to prevent unintended pregnancies. Only 3% of of their health services are abortion services.

“The outcome of cutting their funding will actually be more abortions. And it’s not like Planned Parenthood is rolling in money anyway. Their services are not that affordable, because of the minimal funding received under favorable political conditions. This will make that situation much worse,” continued Dr. Hinesley.

Information on Title X. Infographic by Brinna Dochniak.

A lot of people connect Planned Parenthood to abortion, but Planned Parenthood provides much more than that. It is stated on their website that they provide a wide range of health care. The majority is preventive and primary care. This helps to prevent unintended pregnancies through contraception. They also help reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections through testing and treatment, and screen for cervical and other cancers.

Kayla Carpitella, Development Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central & Western New York said: “Planned Parenthood provides more than 270,000 Pap tests and more than 360,000 breast exams in a single year, both critical services in detecting cancer. Planned Parenthood provides more than 4.2 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including more than 650,000 HIV tests. Planned Parenthood affiliates provide educational programs and outreach to 1.5 million young people and adults in a single year.”

With the removal of the Affordable Care Act and Title X, men, women and children across the country will potentially lose access to these services because they simply will not be able to afford it. Not only does Planned Parenthood provide affordable healthcare for those who may not have premium health insurance. It is also a safe place for young women to go and seek information about sex and birth control. This would be a big upset for teenage and young women if Planned Parenthood was no longer an outlet for them, especially if they are not comfortable consulting their guardians or family doctor about some health concerns they may have.

Megan Aller, a sophomore at Saint Benedict University and patient at Planned Parenthood said, “I have been going to Planned Parenthood since I was 16-years-old. I initially went there for birth control because I was uncomfortable asking my parents because I didn’t want them to know I was thinking about being sexually active. Planned Parenthood was a safe outlet for me and I am really grateful that it was an option for me at that time and even now.”

President Trump and his administration have made plans to remove funding from many organizations and government assistance programs that aid people who may be in need.

Claudia Black, a freshman at Rochester Institute of Technology, said: “I don’t think the government should have to fund places like Planned Parenthood. I understand the importance for access to affordable contraception but I also think people should have to take care of that themselves. And with abortion I think that people should have to be responsible for their actions.”

In the first 75 days of Trump’s presidency there was 167 anti-choice bills proposed. The Republican right-winged point of view has taken full effect in regards to women’s health care.

Laura Shackelford, associate professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, said: “What has happened in the first 75 days of Trump’s presidency seems like pieces and patterns are starting to emerge. At first Trump seemed like he was acting like he did not have any idea what he was doing, but now people are starting to see a pattern in what he has been doing with his administration.”

President Trump’s removal of funding for some government assistance program has reallocated money towards things like the military budget and boarder control.

“It is pretty clear that the whole idea of government supporting people is being completely dismantled,” continued Shackelford. “It’s ironic because the federal government was moving away from involvement in people’s life choices because of it being expensive and time consuming and that seems to apply to everything but women's rights.”

If the Trump administration does follow through with completely dismantling Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, then it is estimated that 24 million people would lose healthcare coverage by the year 2026. Planned Parenthood Action Fund stated, “At least 60% of Planned Parenthood patients rely on public health programs like Medicaid and Title X for their preventive and primary care.”

The removal of Title X and the Affordbale Care Act would be a major step back for women and their reproductive rights; something that should not be determined by the government in the first place.