Global Women's Voices: Share Personal Stories

Kat Daniels, United States

Submitted by: Kat

As a child I grew up in a home with extremely conservative and fundamentalist parents. Their hostile and misguided attitudes towards sex, abortion, and contraceptives were also voiced by my church, school, (which did not teach sexual education except for the evils of pre-marital sex) and most other people in my life. Throughout my teenage years, I was told many lies concerning birth control, abortion, homosexuality, and liberalism. During my senior year of high school I lost my virginity to my (now) finance. Terrified of telling my parents, I went to Planned Parenthood: a place that I was raised to regaurd as corrupt. Because I had not had known how to use birth controll, Planned Parenthood gave me EC and tested me and my finance for STD's (which neither of us had). Now that I am on birth controll, and can thus take care of my body and sexuallity, I am able to work and persue my dream of being a lawyer without being fearful or hampered by pregnancy.
I first turned to Planned Parenthood because I needed help; yet, could not receive it from the people or institutiones in my life. Unfortunately, my situation is not un common. There are millions of other young women who are engaing in sexual relations; yet, do not receive nor know where to receive information that could save their lives. Often, they recieve false information. Consequently I have seen several friends that have become pregnant and afflicted with STD's because they did not know how to protect themselves. Because of mine and others experiences, I belive that family planning organizations must be an important part of each community. It is our responsibility to be advocates of truth when many teen's perceptions toward sex are marred by fear and false assumptions. Finally, it is imparative that abortion remain accesable to minors. Unfortunately, some parents idealologies (such as mine) are so extreme that they will be outraged by their teen's actions and react in a physicaly and emotionally detrimental manner. Because of these unfortunant situations, the child's best interest is preserved if she can receive abortion (and other services) in a legal and confidential manner.

updated: 7/16/2004 4:07:00 AM