According to a new survey by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy 70% of adults believe that insurance should be required to cover birth control.
The survey also found that 81% of the people surveyed felt that using birth control is taking personal responsibility.
These findings show that Americans understand the importance of birth control coverage and availability in order to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Continue reading "Americans Agree, Women Deserve Affordable Access to Birth Control" »
A new study recently released by the Guttmacher Institute confirms what women already know--- that birth control is an important, economic issue.
PPFA’s
infographic breaks down the key results for us:
Continue reading "New Study Confirms What Women Already Know: Birth Control Is an Economic Issue" »
While we are gearing up for a fun-filled primary election on June 5, across the border in North Dakota, they plan to vote on sincerely held religious beliefs.
I try to keep an eye on ballot measures in other states, because there’s always a chance we’ll see them end up in South Dakota. And you know how we love our ballot measures!
North Dakota will vote on June 12 on four different ballot initiatives including Measure 3 which aims to change the ND State Constitution. The North Dakota Family Alliance and the ND Catholic
Conference are supporting the measure that they claim will protect against discriminations against sincerely held religious beliefs.
My colleague from North Dakota, Amy, bought Grace for President for her daughter and thought that our TTRT book club readers might have future some presidents in their families.
From the website, “When Grace’s teacher revels that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides to be the first. And she immediately starts off her political career as a candidate in the school’s mock election. But soon she realizes that she has entered a tough race.
This timely story not only gives readers a fun introduction to the American electoral system but also teaches them the value of hard work, courage, and independent thought—and offers an inspiring example of how to choose our leaders.”
Reviews for this gem includes "...the book delivers lessons on electoral votes, polls, and the reason every vote counts." - The New York Times
"DiPucchio and Pham are game gals. Explaining the electoral system to adults isn’t easy, but they make it understandable to kids." - Booklist
~Carmen, Planned Parenthood Advocate
Two weeks ago SDSU hosted Richard Fox from Loyola Marymount University to present on his joint study, Men Rule.
The Fox and Lawless study found that of men and women, of being generally equal in experience and qualification, women were far less apt to consider themselves qualified to run for office.
This is bad news considering the need for more women in office. According to a recent CBS news report,
At a White House forum on women and the economy Friday, President Obama suggested more women are needed at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue on Capitol Hill.
"Fewer than 20 percent of the seats in Congress are occupied by women," he said. "Is it possible that Congress would get more done if there were more women in Congress? Is that fair to say?"
Low as the percentage cited by Mr. Obama may be, it still marks an increase over generations past, and there is hope that this fall's election may give those numbers a boost.
On a side note, according to the U.N., the United States ranks 71st in the world for the number of women in the legislature -- behind nations like Vietnam and Kazakhstan. Rwanda ranks number one.
Currently, there are 41 women running for the state legislature in South Dakota. These numbers may change based on the outcome of the June 5 primaries and the possibility of more women running as independents.
~ Carmen, Planned Parenthood Advocate
Article, after article, after article discusses why women need to vote in November (and April and June). Women, especially young women largely stayed home in 2010 and look where that got us.
According to Ms. Magazine, “Women must mobilize, register, and flex our electoral might to hold onto our crucial health and economic rights. Join the effort by blogging, Tweeting under the hashtag #HERvotes, supporting efforts to register women to vote, and most of all, helping the highest number of women in history to vote in 2012.”
Locally, South Dakota State University is hosting Women’s Work: SDSU Conference on Political Empowerment to foster political empowerment among female under-graduate students.
To that end, Planned Parenthood MN, ND, SD has started Women Vote 2012. Women can take the pledge to vote in November, RSVP to vote in the election on Facebook and keep up with important updates.
This is it, ladies. We’ve worked too hard for too long to stay home and give up now. It’s time we think like a suffragist and GOWV (Get Out Women’s Votes).
~ Carmen, Planned Parenthood Advocate
We have a huge opportunity and a huge responsibility to elect pro choice candidates to the South Dakota State Legislature in November. Today is the final deadline for candidates to file signatures run for office and by the looks of it, we have a pretty great selection!
Being a pro choice candidate can be difficult – even though a majority of South Dakotans are pro choice! We want to make sure these candidates are as prepared as possible to hit the campaign trail. That’s why Planned Parenthood MN, ND, SD Action Fund, NARAL Pro Choice South Dakota, and the SD Campaign for Healthy Families PAC are planning the first-ever Team Roe Candidate Training!
The training will include: Media Training, Talking About Choice, Fundraising from Start to Finish, New Media Basics, and Field 201 – Beyond the Basics. This training is for candidates and campaign workers, Democrats and Republicans, volunteers, and friends.
Did I mention the training is FREE? AND that lunch is included? What more could one ask for?
The training will be held at Bracco in Sioux Falls on Saturday, April 21 from 10am-5pm. You can RSVP to me at ctoft@ppmns.org or 605-695-1788. Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 18 so we can plan for meals and materials.
~Carmen, Planned Parenthood Advocate
We are excited to present to you the third issue of The Team Roe Times in 2012, a joint project between Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and NARAL Pro Choice South Dakota!
Packed inside this fabulous issue is a book review of "Any Mother's Daughter" about the HPV vaccine, a summary of the South Dakota Legislature, the Blunt Amendment vote, the debut of "Women Vote 2012", an introduction to our new intern, AND SO MUCH MORE! Please enjoy and share widely.
