Holiday 1 Title: The Birth Control Disparity By: Lauren Holiday Specific Purpose: to persuade my audience to recognize and modify beliefs about birth control responsibility and the gender inequality. Method of Organization: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Introduction: I.
Attention Step: A. Open with Impact: “Birth control is the first important step women must take toward the goal of her freedom. It is the first step she must take to become man’s equal. It is the first step they must both take toward human emancipation” (Sanger nyu.edu) (Rhythm/Repetition) 1. These words, popularized by the famously fierce feminist Margaret Sanger, have drove women since the early 20th century to fight for the right to control their own bodies, and have given them a feeling of empowerment and hope for the future. (Rhythm/Alliteration) 2. Since the sex revolution of the 1960s, such control has been granted to women in the form of fifteen different types of contraceptives, compared to only five options for men. B. Focus on Thesis Statement: But, as seen in different studies and even my own survey, this feeling of empowerment has faded away into a sense of burden that women alone must carry the load of responsibility for pregnancy prevention. (Metaphor) 1. What has caused this shift in ideology, and how can we combat this disparity in gender responsibility? 2. Simple: education. C. Connect with the Audience: We have all had some sort of sex education in our lives, whether it was in an optional seminar in
Holiday 2 middle school, a P.E. or biology class in high school, or even from our own parents. 1. But because of the multiple controversies surrounding the teaching of safe sex, our knowledge is vastly limited to what we heard on the bus, or from our older siblings; most of which is not true or incomplete. D. Credibility Statement: Luckily, I have done plenty of research and conducted over sixty surveys to give you the right information, and to hopefully change your opinions and behavior regarding birth control responsibility between genders. E. Preview of Main Points: To do this we will look at the severity of the disparity between males and females in regard to the question of who the responsibility of birth control falls on, learn the steps you can take to close the gap in the ideal world and reality, and understand how these steps will effectively change society to a more egalitarian community. Body: II.
Need Step: Although gender inequality has been on a decline in recent years, the feminization of birth control is still strongly recognized within our society. A. (Severity of Problem 1): This is mainly due to the fact that most people do not know the various options of contraceptives available to them. B. (Evidence): For example, the males in our class could only name, on average, two different types of male birth control. 1. But, like I said before, there are in fact five methods that males can use in pregnancy prevention (Planned Parenthood). C. (Evidence): Same goes for females in our class, who, on average, named five contraceptives, when there are fifteen different types available to them (Planned Parenthood).
Holiday 3 D. (Severity of Problem 2): We can also see how birth control has been correlated with mainly females by the various statistics of my surveys. E. (Evidence): It is reported that 46% of the time females “take care” of birth control, although 89% of people would agree that it should be a shared responsibility. (Generalization Warrant) 1. No one thought it should be a male only responsibility and 11% said it is a female only obligation. (Generalization Warrant) F. (Two-Sided Refutational Argument): These statistics prove that “while the responsibility of ensuring family planning is ideally shared by sexual partners, the burden engendered by unprotected sexual activity is typically borne by women” (Loue et al. 8). 1. But, if you have ever seen the TV show “16 and Pregnant” or even the first season of “Glee”, you would know that this belief is completely false. 2. Males can also have physical and psychological effects due to their partner having an unintentional pregnancy. G. (Severity of Problem 3): There is also a discrepancy in the belief that having more options for birth control than men, women feel empowered and more equal to them. H. (Evidence): In fact, my survey shows that it actually does the opposite; only 26% of females believed it was empowering, while 43% saw it as a burden. (Generalization Warrant) I. (Pathos): This is a big deal; birth control is supposed to be as liberating as the right to vote, for not only females, but males as well. (Simile) 1. In fact, the United Nations declared access to birth control a “universal human right” (Sutherlin examiner.com). Signpost: So, what are some of the steps and options available to us college kids to combat this severity of inequality in our everyday life?
Holiday 4 III.
Satisfaction Step: The main, and most important, step that we all can take is simply changing our attitudes towards this subject. A. (Solution/Plan 1): We all want the same thing: an equal standing and control over pregnancy prevention. 1. Just by realizing that both females and males are affected by unintentional pregnancy, should help close the gap between the want of shared responsibility and the reality of a female dominated obligation. B. (Solution/Plan 2): Once our mindsets have been changed, we can now take active steps to become more engaged in the birth control process. 1. If you are a male, ask your partner how you can help out with this process; whether it is through helping her decide what method is best for both of you, helping the financial burden of buying contraceptives, or even helping her to remember to use the contraceptives. (Information Accessibility) (Rhythm/Repetition) 2. If you are female, be proactive in involving your partner in the decision and responsibility of birth control. (Concreteness) a. Most likely, the males want to help; they just don’t how, when, where, or why. C. (Solution/Plan 3): Another step is simply becoming educated on the different options of birth control available, or where you can go to get help if your partner is being resilient. 1. A very good resource open to both males and females is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 2. They have many locations nationwide, one just down University Blvd. in fact, which provide all different kinds of services, from informational pamphlets and prescriptions to birth control, to health screenings and relationship counseling. (Concreteness)
Holiday 5 3. Even a quick stop on their website will answer a multitude of questions on reproductive health. Signpost: These steps sound good and all, but can they really change what we have all been socialized into thinking? IV.
Visualization Step: Of course! But, as with any other attitude or ideology change, it requires baby steps and commitment. A. And this is made easier by looking at the benefits and practicality of my steps mentioned above. B. (Benefits of Solution/Plan 1): First off, it has been shown that getting males more involved with birth control decisions lowers the risk of unintentional pregnancy. C. (Benefits of Solution/Plan 2): It also makes sense that actively talking about the different options of birth control available to a couple strengthens the relationship by allowing better and more consistent communication and involvement with each other. D. (Benefits of Solution/Plan 3): Being educated on such options also lets you choose the best contraceptive “based on personal, social, religious, and financial considerations� (Loue et al. 107). E. (Benefits of Solution/Plan 4): And, the most important benefit of my plan, is that it will create a more equal and respectable world, where women do not feel burdened by the responsibility of pregnancy prevention and men are not invisible in the decision making process. (Pathos) F. (Practicality of Solution/Plan): This plan is also practical in that there are many resources available for education and support when considering your reproductive health. 1. Not only is the Planned Parenthood a good option, but, as I found out doing research for this speech, there are many books in the library about contraceptive options that you can check out for free. (Concreteness)
Holiday 6 G. (Two-sided Refutational Argument): It can be easy to think that talking to your partner about birth control will be awkward or even scary. 1. But, honestly, if you cannot be open with your sexual partner about preventing pregnancy, then you probably shouldn’t be in that situation anyways. (Pathos) 2. By just being straightforward and mature about it, you can easily communicate your feelings and ideas about birth control responsibility in your relationship. Conclusion: V.
Action Step: So, now that you are equipped with effective, beneficial, and practical steps to take to combat gender inequality within birth control responsibility, go do it! Literally! A. (Restated Thesis): It is high time that people stop associating birth control with females alone. 1. In fact, scientists are researching endlessly for more effective and practical birth control method for males, such as an oral contraceptive pill. B. (Request of Specific Action): Until males have as many safe and effective options for birth control as females, this gender inequality will be hard to combat. 1. But through education, communication, and involvement, this gap between reality and the ideal world can shrink a considerable amount. C. Ending Memorable Line: Like my mom used to tell me: “It makes more sense to take the bullets out of a gun than to wear a bullet proof vest.�
Holiday 7 Works Cited "Birth Control." Methods. Planned Parenthood, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control4211.htm>. Loue, Sana, Martha Sajatovic, and Keith B. Armitage. Encyclopedia of Women's Health. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 2004. Print. Sanger, Margaret. "MSPP Documents Mounted by Others." MSPP Documents Mounted by Others. The Margaret Sanger Papers, 3 May 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/secure/documents/speech_moralit y_and_bc.html>. Sutherlin, Emily. "U.N. Declares Birth Control a Universal Human Right." Examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group, 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.examiner.com/article/u-n-declares-birth-control-a-universalhuman-right>.