Birth control restrictions hold back reproductive rights

Philosophically Speaking

CATHERINE HOOLEY PICKS APART IDEAS, PROFOUND AND INANE

The benefits of thinking about death

CATHERINE HOOLEY MANAGING EDITOR

Death: few people enjoy talking about it, but everyone knows their fate and that the only separation between life and death is time. Although death is often looked at in a negative light, the awareness that life will end can actually make it more meaningful.

PHARMACY POLICY. While Minnesota remains less affected by restrictions on birth control and abortions, boycotting and reaching out to state attorneys general and companies like Walgreens can still have an impact on these limitations.

HAZEL WALTENBAUGH

THE RUBICON BIRTH CONTROL BY THE NUMBERS

Reproductive rights have always been a part of political debates in the United States, a constant back and forth of whether or not women should have control over their own bodies.

On February 1st, 2023, 20 Republican state attorneys general wrote a letter to Walgreens threatening legal action if they continued to sell mifepristone, a progesterone blocker pill that can terminate a pregnancy under 10 weeks, both in stores and through mail in a number of states. Shortly after, Walgreens chose to discontinue the sale of mifepristone in the 20 states that were represented by each of the attorneys. The list includes the 11 states where abortion is fully illegal, as well as nine other states that have heavy restrictions. So far, birth control remains legal in all states, even though many states carry restrictions.

However, reproductive rights should not be a political issue, rather a form of healthcare that should be available to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our society. Walgreens’ response to the Republican state attorneys reflects a larger value of the United States—that profit comes before well-being—specifically for the rights of women. It is irrational that these decisions are continuing to be determined by a male majority, where only three of the 20 attorney signatures were female.

76% of females ages 18-64 have used more than one contraceptive method in their life

77% of reproductive age females favor making birth control pills available over the counter without a prescription

SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation

Many of the states represented by these attorneys general were states where abortion has recently become illegal; however, eight of them have no such laws. While part of the role of a state’s attorney general includes defending the Constitution for the entirety of the United States, as well as arguing cases from state trial and the U.S. Supreme Court, nothing in their job description includes threatening a company over a political debate. The sale of mifepristone is currently legal under federal law, and especially considering the eight states that have no restrictions on abortion rights, it seems like a misuse of their power and authority.

The state of Minnesota has barely been affected by abortion restrictions and the Walgreens case, but it will be important to monitor as students travel to new states for college.

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With full access in Minnesota, students should be mindful of where their rights are being taken away, and how that might affect them moving forward.

While some may have already made the decision to no longer be a customer of Walgreens, the question of effectiveness comes into play. Boycotting is typically aimed at financial pressure, although it isn’t always the most efficient way to threaten a company’s revenue.

According to an article from the Northwestern Institute for Policy Research, the majority of boycotters typically aren’t the target company’s main consumers. Walgreens is one of the leading drugstore chains in the United States, with almost twothirds of Americans as customers, both retail and prescription based. In this particular case, the correlation between political values and consumer habits might not affect Walgreens customers, as the demographics of their customers seem too widespread.

Regardless of whether or not personal boycotting would affect Walgreens financially, boycotting is extremely effective in terms of publicity and damaging a company’s reputation. Other strategies might include writing letters to the company or the attorneys general, and continuing to have conversations about the reproductive rights situation.

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Death is the unknown. No matter how much research is done, or how much technology advances, death will remain an unknown constant at the front of most people’s minds. Some believe that there is Heaven and Hell, some believe in reincarnation, and some believe there is simply nothing. While perspectives on death may vary from person to person based on their beliefs it is undeniable that time in this life is fleeting.

Every second that passes is a second closer to the end of life. That is a terrifying concept, but sometimes fear is the motivation someone needs to live. Studies have found that thinking about death can push people to strengthen relationships, improve their physical health, be more compassionate with others, and reevaluate their personal goals and values.

For example, the phrase YOLO (you only live once) was popularized in 2012 and is often associated with reckless behavior. Although this phrase can have a negative connotation, the actual idea of remembering that your lifetime is limited encourages longer term goals of optimizing one’s life, because they only get to do it once.

Thinking about death can also make life more precious. When people realize that they won’t be alive forever, appreciation for mundane things can become a more frequent occurrence and in turn, improve the quality of life. According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, gratitude can improve sleep, anxiety, mood, and can even decrease the risk of health issues.

Death gives humans perspective. Although coming to terms with the fact that one will die is difficult, it can give a person new meaning. The odds that a person will be born is 1 in 400 trillion. Every human to exist is extraordinary just because they beat the odds of never being born. Perspective, gratitude, motivation, and death is what keeps humans living.

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