In America, interest groups play various role in politics, and help in promoting certain goals of organizations. According to Dictionary.com (2018), [an interest group is] “a group of people drawn or acting together in support of a common interest or to voice a common concern”. Interest groups attempt to influence in various ways such as lobbying government, engaging in election activities, educating various publics, and mobilizing various publics. They also aid in educating the public and policy makers by acting as a voice for them (Annenberg Learner, 2017).
Planned Parenthood believes women need to have the information they need in order to live healthy and fulfilling lives. They were founded in 1916 by Margaret Sanger, and until this day they have more than 600 health care centers in the United States. Not only do they advocate for women, but also provide affordable and high quality health care for men. Sanger believed that women have the right to make their own choice. She studied birth control methods, while it was illegal in the United States, and educated people on them. In October 16, 1916, Margaret Sanger, along with her sister, opened up the first birth control clinic, which attracted hundreds and thousands of women. The clinic was raided a couple of days later, and eventually was shut down. In 1932, she opened up the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau in order to provide women with birth control and to research on how safe and effective it was. Eventually, it was incorporated with the American Birth Control League and soon became Planned Parenthood. In 1936, the courts ruled that birth control should no longer be classified as illegal, and obscene. It was made legal to only married couples, but it was a huge leap in history. Furthermore, in the 1970s, anyone was allowed to get birth control directly from their doctors, and Title X was established for public funding (Planned Parenthood, 2018).
There are hundreds of interest groups, but in this paper we will be focusing on Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that delivers health care, sex education, and support to millions of people. They are mostly funded by the federal government and work through a program called Title X, and through Medicaid. Most services that planned parenthood offers is covered by the federal funds, except for abortions, which is very controversial. Aside from that, due to the fact that it is funded through the government, they welcome people who have health insurance and also those that do not (Miriam Berg, 2017).
Planned parenthood gives millions of people access to birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and educates people of sex education. Most importantly, planned parenthood is a primary source of care for many people, and provides health care for low income communities (Planned Parenthood, 2018). Sadly, there are many controversies when it comes to this organization. There are many people who are “pro-life”. They do not support planned parenthood because they believe they “murder” the unborn babies. This is a huge argument because other people believe that women have the right to their own choice. What if they were raped? What if their lives are at risk? Should women not have a choice? Another topic of controversy, is the birth control. The trump administration has aimed at birth control, trying to eliminate the coverage for the women who rely on it. Furthermore, it is important to note that not every women takes birth control because they are sexually active, but because they need it. Birth control pills are used to treat cysts in ovaries, and hormonal imbalances that cause irregular menstrual periods, acne and hair growth (Health Guides, 2018).
Sadly, since not everyone stands with planned parenthood, it does come with consequences. There has been talks about defunding planned parenthood. According to I Stand With Planned Parenthood (2018), “Defunding planned parenthood really means blocking patients who rely on public health care programs from getting their care at Planned Parenthood health centers”. Various politicians in congress have threatened to defund Planned Parenthood, and enforce laws that block patients from having access to health care. To add on, most politicians main concern is abortion, and so they believe that planned parenthood should be shut down because of this. It is ironic due to the fact that abortion does not use federal funding. In that case, defunding planned parenthood because they are against abortion is absurd, and stops patients from getting tested for STD’s and treatment, for cancer screenings and reproductive care (I stand with planned parenthood, 2018).
In the event that planned parenthood is defunded, it can cause major setbacks in millions of people’s lives. Millions would lose access to health care, and treatment. This can cause people to die from things that could have been prevented and treated if caught at an early stage. Given that, a great majority of people fail to realize that this would hurt minorities the most. Those who live in low income areas, and are not able to afford proper health care. This affects teens who are afraid to go to their parents, and are not educated about safe sex. If planned parenthood is defunded, many people would have nowhere to go.
In addition, there are a number of groups who are against Planned Parenthood. One of many, is another interest group, called the Right to Life. They are prolife and are strong believers that they must defend and protect the most fundamental right of all humans, which is life. They promote respect of everyone whether they are born or not. They do not believe in abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide etc. Their goal is to educate politicians and people in order to advance the protection of human life (National Right to Life, n.d). Furthermore, this is not the only group who is against planned parenthood. There are hundreds of others who are, and what they all have in common is the fact that they are anti-abortionists.
The two sides, pro-life and pro-choice, ultimately clash with one another. According to Diana L. Carter (2018), you can be anti-abortionist but pro-choice. Carter states that “there are people who dislike abortion but believe in keeping them legal for pragmatic reasons…..I am against religious supremacy pushing those facts to the front of the argument, allowing them to supersede a woman’s God-given right to use her free will”. Another important fact is understanding that although many believe that defunding planned parenthood will not get rid of abortions, but instead it would just get rid of access to safe abortion, and pave way to abortion that is deadly and threatens the lives of women. “Every year, about 42 million women with unintended pregnancies choose abortion, and nearly half of these procedures, 20 million, are unsafe” (Haddad and Nour, 2009).
To add on, it is also important to note that planned parenthood is not only for women, and do not just practice abortions. Planned parenthood is also concerned with men’s health, and they encourage men to be concerned about their sexual heath, and cancer screenings. There are various centers that offer additional services for men, like vasectomies and infertility screenings. Overall, planned parenthood is for everybody regardless of their sex, and what they choose to identify with. Planned parenthood also works in schools across America in order to educated teens about healthy lives. Correspondingly, everyone who feels like they are in need, or simply just want to, could join planned parenthood (Planned Parenthood, 2016).
Planned Parenthood has accomplished a great amount of things. Just last year, they conducted 336,614 breast cancer exams, and 75,040 cancers were detected early. This is 75,040 people who were able to get treated on time, and possibly had their lives saved. They also have been able to partner with organizations in countries where health care is neglected, and teach communities about sexual and reproductive health and rights. In Latin America they even launched the “Niña’s No Madres” campaign who primarily focus on forced pregnancy, and draconian laws which prohibit access to abortions (Planned Parenthood, 2017).
Another goal that they have accomplished has been providing moral support for those who are in unhealthy relationships, and teach young people healthy relationship skills in order to communicate with their partners in a non-violent way. Furthermore, they raise awareness of the impacts of domestic violence, and teach people on ways to recognize signs of partner violence and help them leave abusive relationship’s safely (Planned Parenthood, 2014). Moreover, these are a few of the accomplishments planned parenthood has been able to reach. They have built a movement supporting women, and men who have no one else to turn to.
To conclude, Planned Parenthood is an interest group that allows women and men to have a choice. They believe that no one should lose an opportunity to utilize services that are lifesaving. Cutting government funding would hurt people who depend daily on the services Planned Parenthood has provided for them, whether it is birth control or treatments. Planned Parenthood supports everyone, and provides support for people who need it. It is important to state that they also help those involved in domestic violence, provide LGBT services, patient education and men’s health services.