History of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood takes its origins from 1916; though birth control was declared illegal as a result of the Comstock laws in the 1870s, Margaret Sanger, her sister, and a mutual friend opened up the first birth control center in America at this time (History and Successes, 2014). The clinic was closed by a police raid due to its illegality, but in 1923 Sanger opened the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau, an organization designed for the same purpose (History and Successes, 2014). During the course of that same year, Sanger incorporated the American Birth Control League, an organization designed to address the issues of worldwide population growth, famine, and disarmament; the two organizations would later merge to become the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, known as Planned Parenthood (History and Successes, 2014). The organization received widespread notoriety following World War I, with several presidents claiming that the purpose of the organization was a eugenics experiment at best, and it was during this time that the organization changed its name, becoming the Planned Parenthood that we know today (Perry, n.d.). It was this shift in perspective and a change in emphasis to health that served to sway the public opinion of the organization, but it was not until the 1960s-1970s that the organization lost much of its stigma (History and Successes, 2014; Perry, n.d.). Throughout the years the organization has become more popular and more powerful, though it has not been without its turmoil, it has become a major influence in U.S. politics and a driving force behind the successful assistance of women of all income brackets throughout the country.
Planned Parenthood’s Role in Politics
Planned Parenthood has always had a tumultuous role in politics, a role which stays just as turbulent today; the reason for this political opposition is twofold, the issue of abortion combined with the issues of government programs for the poor serves to create a powerful combination, one which compounds the amount of political enemies and political campaigns against the organization (Lepore, 2011). Women’s health funding is one of the prime areas targeted for both congressional budgetary cuts and state budgetary cuts, resulting in what many see as a direct and targeted attack of the government on the availability of quality care for women’s health services (Does defunding Planned Parenthood hurt women’s health?, 2012). In spite of this, the organization continues to wage war against the government, working to reduce and remove the negative repercussions facing women who wish better quality of care; for 2014 alone, the organization has expected to spend more than $18 million to work to increase awareness for women’s health issues, oppose legislations that it feels are damaging to the field of women’s health, and working to increase available programs for women in need (Burns, 2014).
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The Effects of the Group on the Government
While there are some areas in which Planned Parenthood is unable to succeed, resulting in the closing of many of their offices (Does defunding Planned Parenthood hurt women’s health?, 2012), many positive political effects may be seen as a result of their campaigning, including the increased provisions for women’s health in the Affordable Care Act. Battles are carefully fought, most times won, sometimes lost, always with the ultimate goal in mind of allowing women access to the services that they need, are entitled to, or desire (Burns, 2014).
Political Contributions of Planned Parenthood
In order to work to further promote their campaigns and the goals of the organization, Planned Parenthood contributes on a large scale to political campaigns, lobbying for “pro-choice legislation, comprehensive sex education, and access to affordable healthcare” (Planned Parenthood, 2014). In 2012, Planned Parenthood poured $1.4 million into the Obama campaign in an attempt to get him reelected due to his position on women’s health rights (Eberle, 2012). For the 2014 cycle, thus far this year, Planned Parenthood has donated $81,986 and $69,470 to the Senate, all to Democrats, with no monies being donated to Republicans (Center for Responsive Politics, 2014). In addition, thus far for 2014, Planned Parenthood has spent $121,654 on federal elections (Outside Spending Summary, 2014), and has heavily worked to back Wendy Davis for position as governor for Texas (Elections and Politics, 2014).
Reasons for the Selection of Planned Parenthood
I selected Planned Parenthood for the purposes of this assignment because while I do not always agree with their practices, or many of the statements made by their founder, Margaret Sander, I do understand the need for organizations such as this. In today’s day and age, we should be long past the time wherein male politicians attempt to influence what a woman does with her body, much less attempt to federally regulate it; it takes a large organization, such as Planned Parenthood to be able to vocally represent the rights of women, working to ensure that it is they, and not others, who are able to determine what is best for themselves, their bodies, and their current situations in life. In today’s modern society, such anachronistic ideas should no longer be a part of the world in which we live, much less be present within a forward thinking and well developed first world nation like the United States.
- Burns, A. (2014). Planned parenthood reveals big 2014 game plan. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/planned-parenthood-2014-elections-104007.html [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- Center For Responsive Politics (2014). Planned parenthood contributions to federal candidates. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00314617&cycle=2014 [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- Eberle, B. (2012). Planned parenthood pours $1.4 million to obama campaign – the loft. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/2012/05/31/planned-parenthood-pours-1-4-million-to-obama-campaign/ [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- Influenceexplorer.com. (2014). Planned parenthood. [online] Retrieved from: http://influenceexplorer.com/organization/planned-parenthood/a3bf2b2a33a84534a706a2d04c52de95 [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- Lepore, J. (2011). The politics of planned parenthood and women’s rights. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/11/14/111114fa_fact_lepore [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- Opensecrets.org. (2014). Outside spending summary. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=Planned+Parenthood [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- Perry, M. (n.d.). The history of planned parenthood. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.ewtn.com/library/prolife/pphistry.txt [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
Plannedparenthood.org. (2014). History & successes. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/history-and-successes.htm [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014]. - Plannedparenthoodaction.org. (2014). Elections & politics. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/ [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
- The Week. (2012). Does defunding planned parenthood hurt women’s health?. [online] Retrieved from: http://theweek.com/article/index/225409/does-defunding-planned-parenthood-hurt-womens-health [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014].
