Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Handmaid's Tale

Good news Women-Citizens! Your Government is concerned about the health of your as-yet-to-be-conceived as we now move into the "life begins when a woman/incubator is of childbearing years" years with the concept of "Pre-Pregnancy"...
New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control.
That's right Women-Citizens, your government is just worried that you aren't taking proper care of yourself in your pre-pregnant state!

So if you see a healthy young woman without a child and she's drinking, smoking, doing drugs, not eating right, taking medications, mountain climbing, not wearing a helmet while riding her bike, dying her hair, or anything else that could cause harm to her or her pre-conceived child (eggs?) be sure to tell someone in authority!
The recommendations aim to "increase public awareness of the importance of preconception health" and emphasize the "importance of managing risk factors prior to pregnancy," said Samuel Posner, co-author of the guidelines and associate director for science in the division of reproductive health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued the report.
Prior to pregnancy? That's their standard? So basically from birth to menopause women should consider themselves 'pre-pregnant' and act accordingly.

See, it really is about who wants to control your body and make you a second class citizen. Do you honestly think men would allow anyone to tell us crap like this? HA!