Planned Parenthood pres. speaks at U.

Pamela Maraldo, president of the Planned Parenthood Foundation of America, yesterday called for the University nursing community to "use their voices" to fight for women's rights in health care. Her lecture -- sponsored by the School of Nursing as part of the Annenberg Public Policy Center's series on Women in the Public Sphere -- was entitled "Women's Voices: Women's Choices, Nursing Responds." "We must be the change that we wish to see in the world," Maraldo quoted from Mahatma Gandhi. It was this is the philosophy that Maraldo emphasized as she addressed Nursing students at the Nursing Education Building yesterday. Maraldo said women's health in general is a "vast area of neglect." She explained that women's issues -- including depression, domestic violence, and breast cancer -- are "basically ignored." Opening speaker Ann O'Sullivan, an associate professor of nursing, said men must take responsibility for the women they impregnate. "It's not just the woman's responsibility," she said. Maraldo said abortion is the an issue that the government uses to control women, adding that it serves as an "organizing issue" in our society. "Controlling means of reproduction in society betrays democracy," Maraldo said. She explained that while the government tries to control women through abortion legislation, the health of women suffers. Maraldo added that the pro-choice movement must shift from a legal right to a political view. This would allow women to have more freedom and equality. She said the Catholic Church does not have the right to make decisions about issues concerning women's health. "Obligations of faith can be observed with obligations to the general population," she said. Those who attempt to illegalize abortion are trying to put "women in submission," Maraldo said. Their behavior scares drug companies, who are afraid of boycotts. This fear has hurt women, since the "morning after" pill, which has been available since 1982, is not widely used because it was only marginally marketed, she said. The pill, if used regularly, would be responsible for 1.7 million less pregnancies, and 800,000 less abortions, she added. Planned Parenthood is an organization which provides health care, education, and counseling services to nearly five million individuals each year.

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