HPV debate: Virginity or Death?

Merck and GlaxoSmithKline have the answer to the threat of human papilloma virus in women; that is new vaccines that can help prevent it before it infects a system. HPV is an STD that can often lead to cancer in women and has diagnosed 10,000 American women a year. This new vaccine that can be administered to preteens before they become active is the cause of great controversy for Christian groups. They assume that this type of vaccine will allow children to engage in sexual activity before marriage. The article is in opposition of such a notion. The author argues that the real issue for Christian Conservatives is this debate is women’s virginity, just as it was in the original debate over abortion. HPV can be used as a great scare tactic for Christian conservatives because is it not prevented through the use of condoms. However, opponents of this vaccine are essentially holding that having sex before marriage is worse than having cancer later. The conservatives use the example of a 13 year old pregnant girl in Florida who had a child when she was a child herself. The article explains that she was too young to be having sex or an abortion, but it fails to explain why wasn’t too young to be forced to go through childbirth. Right- wing Christians consider that women should abstain from sexual activity. They try to achieve this through the use of fear. This is why people who are pro-life will not join with pro-choicers to lessen numbers of abortions by making birth control available. This has little to do with protecting human life and it is more focused on making sure women are tied to marriage. Read more here.

--
Posted by Ana Lita to Women's Bioethics Blog at 6/02/2006 12:52:00 PM