FEATURES
December 1, 2017
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Common misconceptions about birth control and its uses Emily Yang staff writer
For most women, 3 to 7 days of every month are consumed with bloodstains, cramps, fatigue, and acne. The majority of these adverse symptoms can be cured through sanitary products, Advil, and a nap, but for some women, birth control pills or other types of birth control are the only inexpensive and temporary contraceptive that offers a solution to disorders such as endometriosis, which exacerbates period symptoms. Ranging from $15-50 per month, ‘the Pill’, is one of the most common contraceptives for various reasons. As the name suggests, they prevent pregnancy temporarily and effectively. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, only 0.1 percent of women get pregnant when using the pill properly. Young women find the pill appealing, as it is a viable solution for those who may consider starting families soon. Additionally, the Pill’s
method of releasing estrogen and progestin regulates cycles and minimizes excessive blood flow. For this purpose, birth control pills are also commonly used to prevent anemia and to decrease negative symptoms on women with menstrual disorders. Endometriosis is the appearance of endometrial tissue on the exterior of the uterus, affecting over 200,000 women per year in the U.S. alone, and presents symptoms such as extremely irregular menstruation, severe cramps, and nausea that can all be alleviated through the pill. Other disorders - such as ovarian cysts and menorrhagia (heavy bleeding) - find inexpensive pain relief through the use of birth control pills. The contraceptive mandate is a government regulation that states that employers denying insured access to birth control violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, this mandate did not force employers to fully cover said contraception. But in 2011, under Obama’s Afford-
able Care Act, contraceptives were provided to patients without co-payment, those who qualified for Obamacare could receive free birth control. However, one of the first moves made by the Trump administration was to reduce the parameters enforced by Obama previously in the health care industry. This made it easier for employers and insurers to deny coverage of birth control and other contraceptives, often for religious reasons. When religious opinions enter the realm of health care, science often conflicts with beliefs. The opposition to birth control finds its voice in citing passages from the Bible that state preventing life is sinful and against God’s will. According to the website Catholic Answers, “It is always intrinsically wrong to use contraception to prevent new beings from coming into existence.” This includes condoms, withdrawal, spermicide, or birth control pills. Other arguments against access to birth control argue
Supporting LGBTQ on MI Cordelia Longo staff writer
One of the many challenges high school students face is finding out who they are. Part of this identity exploration means exploring sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. When I was in seventh grade, I realized I was gay. At first I felt alone, but I soon realized I didn’t have to be. It was such a relief to know that I wasn’t alone, and that people had gone through this before I had. I was lucky because my parents were accepting. Some of my friends were gay, too. I had an easy coming out. Some people are not accepted, even in their own homes. That’s just my story, which is a tiny sliver of our school’s chapter. “Over the last 15 years, lawmakers and school administrators have…recognized
that LGBTQ [an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer] youth are a vulnerable population in school settings,” wrote a reporter from Human Rights Watch, a news source that reports on human rights issues from all over the world. My story differs from many peoples’. Some come from conservative households, and some from liberal. Being gay has helped me realize that even though everyone is from different backgrounds, they have experienced the same moments of loneliness, and the same identity crisis that I have. According to the ACLU, “Your school does NOT have the right to “out” you to anyone without your permission, even if you are out to other people at school.” Cathy Gentino, a counselor at MIHS, works with LGBT+ students. “A stepping stone for some students
is participating in a group like the QSA, or being involved in activities outside of school,” said Gentino. There are also little ways someone can help a friend who is having a rough time at school. “Give them support… Just be there for them,” said freshman Saphia Obeidat. More than anything, LGBTQ students need a shoulder to lean on and someone who will listen to them. Many groups on Mercer Island are available to offer community support. The Queer-Straight Alliance, run by Sarah Abreu and Gentino, meets Tuesdays after school in room 202. Teachers and staff are also always available to talk to students when needed. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different. What matters is that the LGBTQ student who needs help is listened to and has someone they can talk to and trust.
Photo courtesy Adoptive Families Coming out in high school can be frightening, but the high school has many LGBTQ+ resources available to students.
that, by allowing women to obtain free contraception, teenagers will be encouraged to have sex. They fear that irresponsibility will lead to sexually transmitted diseases and a boost in teenage pregnancy rates. “I think a lot of parents don’t talk to their kids about [birth control] because they’re afraid it’s going to give their children permission to be sexually active at a young age,” said Dr. Holly Ginsberg, when asked about the fear of allowing minors to have sex through providing birth control. “In reality, the kids are going to be sexually active whenever they’re sexually active, so I think it’s better to be proactive and teach teenagers about their options and ensure that there’s no issues with accidental pregnancies.” In 2017, having different beliefs regarding contraception is acceptable. However, imposing those opinions on others is often where conflict arises. “Religion and beliefs are so widespread and various that each person is entitled to their own belief when it
Photo courtesy Quartz Media Despite the controversy surrounding birth control, many women rely on it.
comes to themselves, but you can’t say that because of my religious beliefs, you can’t do something,” said Ginsberg Finally, Ginsberg concluded, “The VA [veteran benefits] covered Viagra but didn’t cover oral contraceptives for the female veterans . . . They [the government] are looking for any place where they can possibly save money and taking things away from disenfranchised people seems to be the way the government is moving.” Overall, those in favor of birth control hope to improve the lives of women in the workforce, women
with menstrual disorders, women who seek a temporary contraceptive, and transgender men who do not want to experience symptoms of a gender they don’t identify with. The opposition believes firmly that preventing semen from fertilizing an egg in any form is destroying life, thus tarnishing God’s ideal, and that easy access to birth control will encourage teenagers to have sex. Regardless, Ginsberg believes “to each his own,” and that while opinions will always deviate from one another, it’s imperative to respect one’s boundaries when making decisions for others.
Résumé Padding (cont.)
The NHS, which is based around community service and academic success, requires that its members maintain a minimum unweighted GPA of just 3.5. An attempt to increase the minimum GPA to 3.75 last year resulted in significant parental pushback, according to a member of the society familiar with this policy. Members must also participate in 10 hours of community service each semester, including at least one NHS-sponsored project. Other subject-specific honor societies require even less -- the French Honor Society requires just two hours of community service per semester, and the recently formed Tri-M Music Honor Society has a minimum GPA of 3.0 in music classes, with a minimum of just 2.0 for non-music subjects. The National Charity League (NCL), another popular service organization on Mercer Island, sets a similarly low bar for its members. “We spent more time going to [chapter meetings] than doing actual community service,” said a former member, who went on to describe the league as “parent-dominated” and “cliquey.” Because of its status and legitimacy as a national service organization, rather than the actual charitable work that members partake in, the NCL
remains popular among students at MIHS. Looking at the master list of clubs at MIHS, one might be surprised by the quantity of ASB-approved clubs which have no noticeable presence in the school. The average student might very well be surprised to learn that MIHS has a Sailing Club, Adventurer’s Club, and Poiesis Club. Starting one’s own club or organization is a big draw for students looking to gain an edge in the admissions race, and in some cases drives students to found or lead clubs but simply fail to follow through, resulting in an unstable club scene which is constantly in flux. This trend disincentivizes students from joining clubs and organizations which require more effort, since the end result on a résumé or activities list will look the same. Another phenomenon in this vein is the increasing number of captains or leaders that sports and clubs have; in most sports and activities at MIHS the position of captain is no longer reserved for one or two members with special leadership skills, but is now doled out to more students due to the edge it provides in college admissions. All this is a direct result of the immense pressure on students to succeed ac-
ademically, but where does this pressure come from? Parents certainly factor in; the school district has received threats of legal action from parents over perceived slights within MIHS’s institutions in the not-so-distant past. The ever-increasing competitiveness of the college admissions process plays a large role too; seeing acceptance rates of five or ten percent at selective colleges motivates students to do anything to get in, including distorting the truth or participating in low-effort, big-name activities. MIHS boasts a large amount of clubs and motivated students, but is weighed down by students looking to obtain an entry in their résumé rather than a committed club experience. One possible approach to creating a healthier club scene would be for the ASB and club leaders to toughen up the requirements for a club to be considered legitimate. It would also redirect the energy students currently use padding their résumés towards more constructive pursuits. But for now, the academic culture and club requirements at MIHS incentivize students to participate at a bare minimum – enough to look good for admissions officers, but not enough to create strong, productive student organizations.