Guttmacher Institute Takes Us To Class
Look at the lead paragraphs from two national newspapers about the new report from the Guttmacher Institute, Abortion in Women’s Lives. First, the Washington Post:
“Poor women in America are increasingly likely to have unwanted pregnancies, whereas relatively affluent women are succeeding more and more in getting pregnant only when they want to, according to a study analyzing federal statistics. As a result of the growing disparity, women living in poverty are now almost four times more likely to become pregnant unintentionally than women of greater means, the study found.”
And from the New York Times:
“Contraception use has declined strikingly over the last decade, particularly among poor women, making them more likely to get pregnant unintentionally and to have abortions, according to a report released yesterday by the Guttmacher Institute.”
Two national newspapers, two objective reports on the study having talked to people on both sides of the issue and two important data based facts: class matters when discussing reproductive health, and contraception use is declining, thus risking increased disease and infection as well as pregnancy. These trend lines are not ideological, but provable points, well documented in the study.
Look at the lead paragraphs from two national newspapers about the new report from the Guttmacher Institute, Abortion in Women’s Lives. First, the Washington Post:
“Poor women in America are increasingly likely to have unwanted pregnancies, whereas relatively affluent women are succeeding more and more in getting pregnant only when they want to, according to a study analyzing federal statistics. As a result of the growing disparity, women living in poverty are now almost four times more likely to become pregnant unintentionally than women of greater means, the study found.”
And from the New York Times:
“Contraception use has declined strikingly over the last decade, particularly among poor women, making them more likely to get pregnant unintentionally and to have abortions, according to a report released yesterday by the Guttmacher Institute.”
Two national newspapers, two objective reports on the study having talked to people on both sides of the issue and two important data based facts: class matters when discussing reproductive health, and contraception use is declining, thus risking increased disease and infection as well as pregnancy. These trend lines are not ideological, but provable points, well documented in the study.
What is the cause of these trend lines? Growing disparity in class in America in all ways brought to you by the economic policies that are hidden behind the sensationalized social policies used to motivate right-wing voters: a flawed health care system, insurance reform that pushes more costs onto consumers and has fewer benefits, and a growing divide between people with means and those struggling to make it in the world today. The divides and distinctions are largely the fruit of social conservatives—the same people who claim to stand so firmly in opposition to abortion and support economic policies that weaken the social fabric and undermine families. The Guttmacher Report offers them a bona fide reality check: their policies hurt lower income families, and cause more abortions. Nothing “pro-life” about it.