Running Head, Lack of Access to Birth Control… Lack of Access to Birth Control and Contraceptive/Reproductive Education as a Severe
Sustainability Problem, Essay 3
The year is 2040 and it is a typical Tuesday afternoon at White Plains High School in
Westchester, NY. Students, ranging from grades nine through twelve who have HSRH Ed.
(Human Sexuality, Relationships and Health Education) on their schedules hustle to class in
order to make it before the late bell rings. Among them is Alexa.
The number of kids in her class is roughly twenty-five students. This varies depending on
which period of the day it is. However, Federal regulations of this class prevent it from
exceeding fifty students at any school. Alexa meets for this class every other day for second
period and will continue to do so for her entire sophomore year. Passing this class is a mandatory
high school graduation requirement for her, just like Health and Gym are.
This course covers the typical Sex Ed information that Alexa’s dad received in high
school which is education on; the female and male reproductive systems, intercourse, conception,
education on all available forms on birth control, contraception and emergency contraception, the
different legal types of abortions, the benefits of abstinence as a form of pregnancy and STI
prevention and the STDs and STIs. The information specifically covers how each method is
used, and where all of this can be accessed or treated and how it can be made affordable. But that
is not all it covers.
What makes Alexa’s HSRH Ed. class different than the sex ed class her dad took twenty
five years ago is that it is not just about the physics behind and the consequences of sex. Rather,
it is incredibly comprehensive, including topics relevant to relationships, and additional aspects
to human sexuality such as the following; the issues that surround the United States foster care
system and how it operates, adoption options and what that process looks like, the controversy
surrounding abortion, the benefits of masturbation as sexual and stress release without risks of
STIs and Pregnancy, resources for teens struggling with their sexuality, the negative influence of
the media and porn on sex culture, the difference between porn sex and real sex, the normal
diversity of genitalia and the hormonal changes that take place in adolescences particularly when
relationships become physical and how that can affect judgment and provoke severe emotional
responses. Abstinence is part of the curriculum, but just that- a single part, and one of many.
Alexa, despite living in New York, has a cousin Nina who is the same age as her (sixteen
and a half). Alexa is really close with Nina. They used to live down the street from each other
until last summer when Nina’s dad got a job in Texas and the whole family had to move. This
relocation was difficult for the girls because they grew up sharing everything and depended on
each other. It was an exciting event when both girls got their fall schedules from their separate
public schools and realized they would both be taking HSRH Ed this year. They knew they
would have the same curriculum despite being as separate schools because all public schools that
receive federal funding in all fifty states must teach the same course. The girls looked forward to
being able to study for their basic multiple-choice exams together.
Knowing Alexa and Nina would be taking the same class also gave their mothers (who
are sisters) a bit more piece of mind about the whole thing. Alexa’s and Nina’s mothers grew up
in North Carolina in a conservative town with religious parents. Sex was not an appropriate topic
to discuss, ever. Their moms consequently never received sex ed in school and both women felt
very uncomfortable about their girls being required to take this class. Their initial reaction was to
Lack of Access to Birth Control… 2 withdraw their daughters from the program, but quickly learned that was not possible if they
wished for them to graduate from a US public school system. An option they did have, and chose
to participate in, was to attend the monthly evening meetings held by the HSRH Ed teacher that
summarize what the class would be covering in the upcoming month. At these meetings they
were able to receive all educational materials ahead of time and talk about it with each other over
FaceTime the following week (since the information provided in the Texas class is exactly the
same as the information provided in the New York class) before their daughter were exposed to
the material. While they preferred an abstinence only curriculum, like they had growing up, the
moms had to admit the incredibly evident national reduction of teen pregnancy and do see
tremendous benefit in their girls learning about other issues the class brings up. And, while the
class is not solely responsible for this, both mothers appreciate how confident their daughters
appear to be with their body image and among their male and female friends- a feeling they do
not remember sporting so strongly in their teen years. They also find it amusing how shocked the
girls were when they learned about the previous “pro-choice vs pro-life” debate that used to be
such a heated political topic across the nation and that voters would vote for politicians based off
their stance on the topic alone. This is because living in the current state where unplanned
pregnancy rates are so low, the girls struggled to imagine anyone giving so much attention to the
issue of abortion, since today, it happens so very rarely. In class, they later learned that part of
the nation-wide negotiation on the topic was the establishment of their class, and subsidizing and
increased availability of contraception in exchange for a reduction in the number of abortion
providing facilities.
One night after dinner Alexa and Nina FaceTime, to catch up, talk about class, and also
Nina’s new boyfriend. In HSRH Ed. both girls just learned about the hormonal affects of a
relationship turning physical, and particularly, sexual. Nina explains all the reasons she like Jake
(her new boyfriend) and why she is unsure if she should put off having sex or not. The girls
begin talking about the easy stuff, as Alexa asks Nina if she started birth control and if she knows
how and where to get it. Since they are taking the same class, Nina responds that she does and
had a Video Chat appointment with her doctor two weeks ago and just started her new birth
control, which was covered by her insurance, a few days earlier. By the end of their
conversation, Nina decided she has too many academic and social commitments to risk
becoming infatuated with Jake this early into their relationship (which she understands can
happen as a result of having her brain flood with oxytocin and dopamine by becoming sexually
involved) and decided to tell him she prefers that they wait. Jake, having taken HSRH Ed. last
year, is disappointed but understands and is respectful.
Summer rolls around and Nina and Jake have grown closer, despite waiting to have sex.
One very late night, the two decide to take it to the next step. Neither has a condom, because they
have never needed one before. Josh calls the CD (condom Delivery) number to have them
delivered. While the CD service only takes twenty to forty minutes, the audio machine message
explains that CD is only available from the hours of 7:00am to 2:00am. Despite being on birth
control, neither Nina nor Jake have ever been tested and know that a condom is the right choice.
Thankfully, the corner store vending machine is accessible twenty-four hours a day and only a
fifteen-minute walk, or five-minute bike ride. The most difficult part of this entire process is
decided which type of condom to buy, as the vending machine is packed with such a large
variety of options. Ultimately, they choose the subsidized condom, costing no more than a
quarter; head home, and intimately bring their exciting memorable night to a close.
Lack of Access to Birth Control… 3 The justification of the sustainability of this vision.
This vision has the ability to lessen affects of the global issue that is human overpopulation because it drastically reduces the number of unplanned pregnancies within the United
States. The significance of this lies in the enormity of the environmental impact of the average
US citizen. By preventing the population additions that come from unwanted and unplanned
children, the viability and integrity of ecosystems currently suffering from this problem
ultimately benefits.
This vision not only improves the human and social wellbeing of those currently alive,
but also for those who will later be born into families that are ready and have planned for their
arrival. Through this vision, there are fewer STI/STD contractions meaning less people infected
and therefore less people suffering with debilitation and humiliation. Through this vision there
are also, as stated many times, fewer unplanned pregnancies. And, as listed and analyzed in great
detail in papers one and two, teen pregnancy causes a plethora of detrimental effects. By
reducing these rates of pregnancy and disease, Human and Social Wellbeing unquestionably
increase. A more concrete example looks at the foster care system. Sixty percent of kids in foster
care are there due to being born to an unprepared teen mother. (Ng, A.S., Kaye, K., 2013) By
having fewer teen mothers, not only will there be fewer kids in foster care which will result in
better care for the children that do end up there, but it also means more children being able to
stay in their families, because they will arrive only after their families are ready and expecting
them. Statistically, this will result in these children having an increased chance to, graduate high
school, live above the poverty and have fewer if any run-ins with the law.
With improved human and social wellbeing also comes increased Equitable Opportunity
for Livelihood and Economic Activities, which was slightly touched on above. By not being a
teen parent (particularly mother) an individual has significantly higher chances of graduating
both high school and college, finding and holding a job, avoiding poverty and not having
unplanned children therefore being able to better manage both personal finances and current
family. This vision reduces the number of unplanned pregnancies and by extension the chance of
becoming a teen/unprepared mother and therefore greatly improves Opportunity for Livelihood
and Economic Activities for our affected stakeholders. On top of this, a causing stakeholder
(the US government) also has improved economic activities as a result of this vision.
Specifically, for “every $1.00 invested in helping women avoid pregnancies they did not want to
have, saved $5.68 in Medicaid expenditures that otherwise would have been needed.” (Frost, J.
J., 2010) This unspent money can therefore be used elsewhere. Additionally, ideas like the
condom delivery service opens doors for entrepreneurial innovation and business (economic)
opportunities within communities and across the nation.
Justice, both across Societies (Inter-regional Justice) and from one Generation to
the Next (Inter-generational Justice) is improved upon by this vision. By subsidizing
contraception and ensuring birth control is affordable and covered by insurance, in addition to
increasing accessibility through infrastructure and technology such as the twenty-four hour
condom vending machine at “the neighborhood corner store” or gas station and (possibly the
most important) providing extremely comprehensive sexual education at the federal level in
public schools so all citizens have access to the same accurate education and materials improves
justice inter-regionally by ensuring sexual health, awareness and preventative care is not limited
to societies’ elite. By alleviating or at least highly mitigating unplanned pregnancies, we improve
the ability for those in low income communities to escape the poverty cycle and improve not just
their own life, but the life of there current and or future family.
Lack of Access to Birth Control… 4 At Arizona State University Dr. Lee Spencer currently teaches the lower division
psychology class Human Sexual Behavior (PSY222) This course touches upon every topic the
vision mentioned as part of the mandated HSRH Ed. class. This course offered at ASU is one of
many examples of what a comprehensive sex education class can look like and should cover.
Other classes with a similar curriculum are also offered at ASU through other departments (such
as Human Sexuality (FAS332) through the school of Family and Human Development and at
other universities around the world. Syllabi from these varieties of classes should be compared
along with how students responded to the material. From this, a high school level class can be
constructed then broken down to align with the time frame of high school class that meets every
other day for school year compared to that of a college course that meets for hours a week over
one semester. In regards to the idea of increased contraceptive availability, resources such as
condom delivery services are already available at a variety of locations. Throughout the country
of Dubai, Durex offers a condom delivery service that discretely deliverers contraception directly
to your location through GPS technology in combination with their App “SOS Condoms”. As of
February 14th 2014, L. Condom,s a condom company with a social focus and one for one mission
with partner nations in Africa provides a “1-hour” delivery service with a delivery fee of five
dollars for residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Similar condom delivery services are
increasingly becoming available particularly in high-populated cities (NYC has a growing
number becoming available) and on college campuses such as CondAm founded by at the timesophomore Kyle McCabe at The College of New Jersey. Similar infrastructure to the idea of a
contraception-bearing vending machine also already exists. At Shippensburg University in
Pennsylvania, Plan B One-step is available in the vending machine at the Universities health
center and offered for half the price it is at CVS or other stores thanks to the school choosing to
provide this item and not collect a profit, resulting in it being much more affordable to students
in need. While the vending machine in the vision would provide a multitude of contraception
options, pregnancy tests and lubrications in addition to Emergency contraception, this is a great
example of making this preventative technology easily accessible and affordable. Taking it back
to schools, the Netherlands provides (but does not mandate) comprehensive sex education
starting in secondary school to teach Dutch citizens young and old how to make well informed
choices and do sex safely. Also being considered and existing on small scale, is the idea to
expand sexual education into primary school. On top of all of this, sexual education is expanded
beyond school through programs available at community centers, though the media and other
common outlets. All of this, ultimately enables the Netherlands to have one of the lowest rates of
teen and unplanned pregnancy in the developed world. (Rutgers, N.D.) Overall this diverse array
of evidence supports multiple aspects of this vision and therefore attest to its feasibility.
This vision is absolutely a compromise. Comprehensive sex education replaces
“abstinence-only” sex education or “no sex education” while access to abortion becomes by no
means “more accessible.” However, this compromise is beneficial to all key stakeholders. All
things considered, after everything has been boiled down, everyone is in agreement what we
want to reduce the number of abortions performed in the United States, reduce the number of
kids in the foster-care system, reduce the number of people on welfare and reduce the nation’s
ridiculously high teen pregnancy and STI contraction rate. Where our stakeholders differ, is on
the method of how to do this. But through this vision, stakeholders are able to tackle these
problems by coming together where their goals overlap, so everyone can win, -to some degree
verses standing apart over areas their goals conflict resulting is exponential loss for all. Instead of
disputing the availability of abortion, this vision proposes a future state where no one needs an
Lack of Access to Birth Control… 5 abortion, because there are no (or at least incredibly few) unplanned pregnancies. In regards to
the mandatory comprehensive nation-wide sexual education program HSRH Ed., which again
stands for Human Sexuality, Relationships and Health Education, completion of this course is a
United States public school requirement, But, attending a United States public school is not in
itself a legal requirement. Parents and families still do have the option to enroll their children in
religious school and would therefore not be required to partake in this program. Additionally,
while this class covers material outside the comfort zone of some and material deemed
unsuitable for teenagers by others, it includes a tremendous amount of additional information
beneficial for all young adults in order to live a healthy and safe lifestyle. Among birth control
and contraception options, is abstinence and masturbation. Both are considered as legitimate and
highly encouraged as the best form of protection against STDs/STIs and pregnancy. Among
other topics included, is the hardship that follows a life in foster care and the detrimental
consequences brought on by teen parenthood. All of which are deterrents’ from sexual
promiscuity. Also included is a psychological sexual explanation as to what happens on a
chemical level during sex. This information, despite if used by individuals inside a marriage or
young adults in a non-exclusive arrangement, is useful information that enables people to make
educated and healthy decisions. The biggest aspect of this however that enables all key
stakeholders to come together in agreement here, is that the ultimate goal and outcome, a drastic
deduction in unplanned pregnancies and therefore, a drastic reduction in demand for abortion.
Consequently, as a result of the successful implementation of this vision, all stakeholders can
walk away knowing their biggest demand was met. A systems map that outlines this envisioned
future state can be found below.
Lack of Access to Birth Control… 6 Lack of Access to Birth Control… 7 Work Cited
Banks, E. , (2013, February 1). Durex App Promises Discreet Condom Delivery on Demand.
Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2013/02/01/durex-condom-delivery/
Cannold, J. (2012, February 8). Vending machine dispenses emergency contraception. Retrieved
from http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/08/us/plan-b-vending-machine/
Fox News, (2013, February 14) . College student creates condom delivery service to promote
safe sex. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/14/college-studentcreates-condom-delivery-service-to-promote-safe-sex/
Frost, J. J., Zolna, M. R., Frohwirth, L. (2010, July). Contraceptive Needs and Services,2010.
Retrieved from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/win/contraceptive-needs-2010.pdf>,
Jayson, S. (2008, September 9). How the USA compares in teaching teens about sex. Retrieved
from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-09-07-sex-educationside_N.htm
L. Condoms, (N.D.) Home Page. Retrieved from https://thisisl.com
Painter, A. G., (2014, February 13) One Company’s Special Delivery: Condoms and Flowers
For Valentine’s Day. Retrieved from http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/thescene/One-Companys-Special-Delivery-Condoms-and-Flowers-for-Valentines245285431.html
Rutgers WPF Sexual and reproductive health and rights. (N.D.). Sexuality education in the
Netherlands. Retrieved from http://www.rutgerswpf.org/content/sexuality-education-inthe-netherlands