Nancy Folbre's article in the NYTimes.com Economix section addresses the subject of women and health care. The article quotes Senator John Kyl (D-AZ) claiming that as a man, he should not have to pay premiums to finance maternity costs because he has never needed maternity care. His remark is mind blowing considering that his mother needed maternity care while giving birth to him. Furthermore, other women in his life such as his wife, sister, friends, and so on might need maternity care, and his lack of acknowledging this fact is appalling.
We as Americans are in health care reform together, yet often the heavier burden of health care falls to the responsibility of the woman. Women are starting at a disadvantage simply due to biology. Women are the ones who are physically affected by pregnancy, so they are expected to take charge when it comes to family planning, pregnancy, or even raising a child.
Women are simply at a disadvantage in our society regarding health care. The amount of single mothers has risen over the years, and women who are head of households have to take care of themselves and their children. This can be difficult, especially given the fact that women make less money than men. Furthermore, women who are married are more likely to be under their husband's employer insurance. Once the husband retires (or loses his job, in this economy), the wife is then left in a predicament.
Congress needs to take gender into account while drafting a new health care reform bill. Although many aspects of health care can be seen as "Women's Issues," they affect all of us.
Further reading of the article can be found here:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/health-care-reform-is-a-womens-issue/
I fully agree with the argument you make against this. For one, there are particularly male problems such as prostate issues that women could argue against paying for. So called "Women's issues" are also one's mother's, wife's, daughter's, and sister's issues. When discussing healthcare, one has to assess the necessity of the care being issued, often in these circumstances this care, particularly maternity care, cannot be compromised.
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