With Planned Parenthood being a common topic of conversation recently amongst politicians, celebrities, and the masses, it is necessary to understand what exactly Planned Parenthood does and how the organization functions before taking a stance on the organization itself. The debate about whether to fund or defund Planned Parenthood is not a new one, but it is time for women to make their own decisions about what they feel is best for the future of the organization. It is especially important for women to be informed about the purpose of such an organization, because they make up the majority of people seeking services from Planned Parenthood and are thus the ones most directly impacted by the continued or discontinued funding of Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that has been providing healthcare services and information to women and men for over 100 years. The medical services provided by the organization include abortion procedures, STD testing and treatment, breast exams, sexuality and reproductive education, and contraception, amongst others. According to the Planned Parenthood website, one in five women have visited a Planned Parenthood center atleast once in their lifetime, 80% of patients have recieved services related to preventing unintended pregnancies, 360,000 breast exams have been administered through the organization, and 3% of the organization's total services are abortion services. According to Planned Parenthood's 2014-2015 Annual Report, a majority of the organization's revenue comes from government funding (specifically from Medicaid and Title X), followed by private, non-government services, and "other" revenue sources, respectively.
Planned Parenthood simultaneously receives unwavering praises and fervent criticisms from many, which fuels the debate of whether Planned Parenthood should continue receiving government funding or not. The following women share various stances on the issue to help other women determine their own feelings towards Planned Parenthood.
To Fund or
Not To Fund?