Mass Medias Effect on the Perception of Contraception

Contraception has been a controversial subject for many years and has been in and out of the media’s focus for just as long. Media itself is biased therefore has such a strong impact on how we see many different things. There are so many different forms of media reaching a varying audience that it is impossible for the media to not influence our perception on things such as contraception. What effect has the media had in shaping public perception on contraception over the last half-century? We had mass media coverage during the 1980s when we had a huge AIDS epidemic, during this media coverage we heard two very different stands one telling us to use contraception be safe and get tested, while the other was a religious man telling us that†¦show more content†¦Some of the media was positive and maybe even supportive while others were against the acts and progress the feminists were achieving. During the seventies the media had the spotlight on all issues reproductive in large part due to the ever strong feminist movement. Their strong presence led way to Roe v. Wade, one of the biggest abortion cases held by the Supreme Court in 1973. Following this Planned Parenthood brought cases to the Supreme Court; one of the case rulings was to stop sales to persons under 16. All of the media coverage made this a huge social debate, and still is to this day. In the eighties we also had Ronald Reagan appointed; he was very openly opposed to abortion. There was a campaign of terror following Washingtons anti- abortion and birth control statements. Many doctors and clinics associated with family planning were targeted, threated and even violently attacked. This was caught on camera on numerous occasions and a constant topic in the media. Even with the medias contestant â€Å"in your face† approach to such â€Å"touchy† subjects the government turned a blind eye, but the people began to grow restless. The media and government supported the more conservative side of the birth control and abortion debates/discussions. Due to the strong conservative presence abstinence only programs were implemented, instead of the comprehensive programs that taught about birth control. Having these programs taught during theShow MoreRelatedTeenage Pregnancy in the Philippines4412 Words   |  18 Pagesstay home and take care of the baby. Her growing up is accelerated.† â€Å"It also upsets the family structure,† she adds. â€Å"The girl makes a grandmother out of her own mother before she’s ready for it. Her siblings are affected. There’s also the effect of hiya. Some still feel compelled to hide the girl until she delivers. After a while, the unwed mother learns to accept her condition. But it takes longer for her family.† â€Å"The sex drive is a powerful drive created by God,† says Gonzales.