Birth Control

While reading an article on my favorite feminist blog - www.jezebel.com - about whether oral contraceptives should be included as what will be free in the new health care bill (I think it should be), I came upon this wonderful little quote from the Conference of Catholic Bishops:

"I don't want to overstate or understate our level of concern," said McQuade, the Catholic bishops' spokesperson. "We consider [birth control] an elective drug. Married women can practice periodic abstinence. Other women can abstain altogether. Not having sex doesn't make you sick." 


I'm not even going to go into the issue of reproductive rights, but notice that "women can practice periodic abstinence" and "women can abstain altogether"...  I can't stand how birth control is always considered the responsibility of the woman.  Last time I checked, (reproductive) sex takes at least two people, and so I think it is every bit as much of the man's responsibility as the woman's.  Not every form of contraception works for every couple, but that's why you should talk about it (imagine that! communication! *gasp*) and figure out together what works for you.  I'm sick of hearing how so-and-so "got herself pregnant" and now it's somehow her issue to deal with.  Unless so-and-so went and got AI - good for her if that's what she wanted - then she didn't "get herself pregnant".  Guys: it is your responsibility to find out if your partner is on any form of birth control method, because any potential pregnancy is 50% your fault, so don't just assume she is going to "take care of it".  


And on that note, I would love to see more research and development of birth control methods for men.  Thank you and that is all for now.