The
Pill
The
pill has been a controversial subject for many years in Japan. The
Health Ministry has refused to grant permission for the sale of it,
citing more time is needed to study the harmful effects it could have on
women.
Exactly what these harmful effects are, remain a mystery. Are they
worried about the possible side effects, increased risks of cancer, if
taken over a long period of time, and so on, or are they worried that
Japanese women will suddenly shrug of all their morals and become
"loose and fancy free"? How much time do they need ? An
application for the sale of the pill was made in 1965 !
Some foreign male apologists for the Ministry cite such limp
excuses as, "they are thinking of Japanese women's health".
Who are they trying to kid, letting a woman have an abortion is
healthier than taking the Pill, according to that person.
Other views such as, "America has a very high incidence of out of
wedlock births, especially amount teenagers, since the Pill was first
introduced nearly 40 years ago". Amazing reasoning. Firstly, how
can the Pill be to blame for the rising birthrate among females taking
the Pill? Surely the main reason for taking it is to prevent unwanted
pregnancy, and secondly the Pill success rate is around 99%, the
argument these people make is therefore, to put it kindly,
"trash".
Other male foreigners, with an agenda or a hate of independent women,
believe it is not in the woman's best interest to let her have a choice
to use the Pill.
To all foreigners who hold such views, I have only this to say to you.
Go back to your own country and spout that same nonsense, I am sure the
females in your country will really appreciate you for caring so much,
about their welfare. With normal, sane and level headed people though,
to not give Japanese women the right to choose for themselves, after
educating them on the possible harmful side effects of the Pill is
completely wrong.
The Japanese government is desperate to reverse the downward trend in
the birthrate. Perhaps, keeping the Pill from women, is one of the ways
that they hope will solve the problem. Giving women the right to take
the Pill is even more important that letting men take Viagra.
The abortion rate in Japan is perhaps the highest for any industrialized
nation, surely, nobody can say this is a healthy state of affairs. Isn't
it time for the bureaucracy to really start caring about the people for
whom they are charged to protect, and not just about themselves and
their own mean spirited beliefs and redundant values.
Who
knows, in the future the Pill may be released onto the market in Japan,
or possibly not. It is still a mans world in Japan, after all.
Your views on this very important subject would be most welcome.
Especially, women from any country, let me know what you think! Japanese
bureaucrats, doctors from any country your input would be a bonus. |