Here is another edition of "He said WHAT!?" that make you question whether or not we're properly teaching common sense. Rick Santorum Supporter, Foster Friess, with a smile on his face, thinks that instead of affordable access to contraceptives for women we should use "aspirin between their knees". 

It scares me to say with the same video I agree with Friess where "people seem to be preoccupied with sex. It says something about our culture. Maybe we need a massive therapy session so we can concentrate on what the real issues are". I agree, as a culture we are constantly being oversaturated with sex in media with images that enforce value sets that objectify women and girls and emotionally constipates men and boys. So Mr. Friess, Darrell Issa, and many of the close-minded male leadership in both the Republican & Democratic Party, let's talk about what the real issues are and stop being distracted by sex. 

Birth Control is not just about sex

Nearly 99% of women have relied on contraception in their lives, but more than half of women between 18 and 24 years old have struggled to afford it. Oral birth control pills is not just about sex. Women and girls not having sex can be prescribed birth control pills to regulate hormones in the body and prevent many serious diseases.

The use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) for five years or more decreases the risk of ovarian cancer in later life by 50%.^[114]Combined oral contraceptive use reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 40% and the risk of endometrial cancer by 50% compared to never users. The risk reduction increases with duration of use, with an 80% reduction in risk for both ovarian and endometrial cancer with use for more than 10 years. The risk reduction for both ovarian and endometrial cancer persists for at least 20 years.^[25]

Taking oral contraceptives also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, and improves conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and acne.^[83] Additionally, birth control pills reduce symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, and decrease the risk of anemia.^[84]

Religious Freedom

What I find to be the real issue is a lack of true representation in our governing bodies to stand up and say "stop being distracted by your perception of heteronormative sex and pay attention to real issues". Today Rep. Darrell Issa held a hearing regarding the recent developments on access to contraceptive care. The title of the hearing was "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" 

The Department of Health & Human Services' decision to provide birth control does not impose upon religious freedom. If a woman works for a religiously affiliated university or hospital that objects to providing contraception coverage, her insurance company - not her employer - will offer her free contraception. As always, no religious institution will have to provide contraception directly, while female employees will have access to free contraception if they so want.

This may be the most soft footed trampling I have ever encountered. If this was how the wildebeest stampede had trampled over Mufasa we would not have the "I cried when Mufasa died" generation of emotionally bare youth. No one would have cried. 

Where are the Women?

The photo below of that hearing has been circulating as a version of "Where's Waldo?" or more likely if you are convening a Oversight Committee on Women's Health than where are the women to testify about their health? 

Caption from Nancy Pelosi's Facebook page: Right now at a House Oversight Committee hearing, House Republicans have called five men to testify on women’s health. My colleague Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) who is on the committee, looked at this panel (from which a woman who was the Democratic witness was excluded by the GOP) and asked: where are the women? That’s a good question

We do need to stop being so preoccupied by sex. Certain members of Congress should spend less time preoccupied with sex and more time doing their jobs of listening to their constituents... it would seem absurd to only listen to half of your constituents and if I recall correctly we live in a democracy where majority wins? 50% + 1. So consider this a late valentine from about half the U.S. population.