In 2018, Republican Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh called contraceptives an “abortion-inducing drug.” Since then, Kavanaugh’s words and beliefs have received support from right-leaning voters across the nation. Statements like these reflect the GOP’s latest attack on women’s bodies as the party continues to illogically dismantle access to contraceptives, the very medications that can prevent abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies. This rhetoric perpetuates the many fallacies regarding contraceptives caused by the lack of education and promotion of political beliefs over science. Change within our society regarding contraceptive use is crucial in order to ensure a woman’s constitutional right over her own reproductive rights while allowing for more safe sex. Contraceptives will reduce the amount of both unwanted pregnancies and, as a result, abortions. This would make the lives of many women significantly more simple — however, some people disapprove of giving women power over their own bodies, turning contraceptives into an argument. It is baffling how something that would simply benefit women and not hurt anyone else has turned into a political debate. 

It is important to recognize that women of color and women of lower income are disproportionately affected by access to contraceptives because they are less likely to get abortions and generally have less education on contraceptives’ usage. These women have higher unintended birth rates and are more likely to be less prepared to have a baby. They may not be financially stable and could be putting themselves and their babies at risk (Planned Parenthood Action). Since prescription contraceptives are pricier but much more effective, if contraceptives were more affordable for these women, unintended pregnancies would decrease. According to a 2012 Brookings Institution report, “more than 90 percent of abortions occur due to unintended pregnancy,” so cutting birth control costs could reduce unintended pregnancies and prevent health risks. Of course, contraceptives will never be completely effective, but the rates of unintended pregnancies will decline and women of color and low income women can have a better future. Most of these women barely have enough resources to keep themselves afloat, let alone a child. Mitigating these unwanted pregnancies will allow these women to strengthen themselves financially. Most importantly, contraceptives give women the choice on when to have children and give women the power to make decisions about their bodies. There are so many contraceptives available, and although it can be overwhelming, women need the freedom to choose what’s best for them without having cost as an obstacle. Birth control can also be used for health purposes by preventing transmission of sexually transmitted infections). It doesn’t make sense that many Republicans won’t support a government providing free or affordable healthcare when they themselves want fewer abortions. If they truly were as anti-abortion as they claim, then they would support the resouces, like affordable healthcare, which would decrease abortions nationwide. There’s a clear reason for this: Some Republicans feel they can control women’s lives.

Contraceptives need to be more affordable, and we also need to strengthen awareness and advocacy about them, especially at schools. Many times, schools focus on preventing STIs, but educators rarely talk about preventing pregnancies, which is another key aspect of sexual health. As a whole, we need to work on limiting the inaccurate statements made about contraceptives. This, coupled with reproductive policies that focus on educating about instead of stigmatizing sex, will ensure that our generation stays healthy. The current proposal to ship birth control pills to a patient’s house makes contraceptives more accessible to the people who need them the most. If the stress of buying these pills is gone, they are more likely to actually use contraceptives. A large percentage of unplanned pregnancies are teenage pregnancies, situations that could have been easily avoided if these teenagers had had access to safe and effective birth control in the first place (National Center for Biotechnology Information). For most teenage girls looking to get put on birth control, that process looks like doctors visits, OB-GYN visits, occasionally blood tests, and a trip to the pharmacy — all to get some pills that make you dizzy. 

Many Republican politicians portray contraceptives as “abortion-inducing pills” when in actuality they work to prevent pregnancy. Newspapers also play a big role in spreading misinformation, as many say that emergency contraceptives can cause defects to an “existing pregnancy.” In reality, the stage in which the emergency contraceptive begins to work isn’t anywhere near an actual pregnancy — emergency contraceptives exist to prevent ovulation, not to kill a baby. When sex education is thorough, students are more likely to make safer and healthier choices rather than learning about misconceptions. Most unintended pregnancies involve couples who use contraceptives incorrectly or don’t use contraception at all, emphasizing the importance of sex education starting at an early age to prevent unwanted consequences.

Fortunately, progress is on the horizon as Biden pledges that his federal court nominees support the right of privacy, meaning it is women’s right to decide what they do with their bodies. Biden will repeal the Trump administration’s Title X gag rule, which will protect birth control for four million people and ensure all people have access to all health care options. Additionally, Biden wants to build on the progress made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which covers access to preventive care and contraceptives. He stated, “The public option will cover contraception and a woman’s constitutional right to choose” (Joe Biden Campaign). Ultimately, there is hope to secure women’s access to contraceptives, though it is imperative to increase education and awareness on its usage and to continue the fight in protecting women’s rights.