Posted by Eugene Volokh:
A Pill That Ends Menstruation:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_05_20-2007_05_26.shtml#1179956158
[1]Ann Althouse blogs about this -- apparently the pill just got
approved -- and the discussion in her comments is very interesting.
My thought: It's perfectly sensible to be concerned about the pill's
safety, even despite the approval. But some of the other concerns
strike me as entirely misguided. Here's [2]one comment (from commenter
"galvanized"), which exemplifies this:
[M]enstruation, like childbirth, is just part of being a woman. If
another woman would want to escape it, then sure, she should go for
it. But, not being punny, it just wouldn't feel right to sidestep
it.
Secondly, we're a pill culture. We now have yet another pill for
another condition. I think we're way too dependent on medications.
The further one goes from what is natural then the more chance for
negative effects. Also, just doesn't feel right to pop a pill for
this reason....
It seems that superfluous medicating is right up there with
cosmetic surgery. I think that this pill is really a byproduct of
our culture's quest to be aesthetically perfect, a spillover from
magazine covers and television. So, yes, I do consider this a
feminist issue, a suppression of sorts even if it is women doing it
to themselves. I don't want my daughter to think that anything that
occurs in association with being female is disgusting and should be
eradicated. It's negating a not-so-pretty part of femininity. Maybe
androgyny is what we're after?
The third is that there, as always, could be longterm effects that
aren't known yet. Plus, it's more money for big pharm companies.
That's all I need to know. Big business has made our culture
pill-dependent, and we buy it up....
Again, concerns about long-term health effects are quite sensible. But
I don't see any justification for the feeling that it's not "right to
sidestep" something that's "part of being a woman." I suppose it could
be some esthetic judgment that argument won't much drive; but setting
aside esthetics, why on earth should we want to accept natural but
painful or unpleasant things?
Disease is a part of being a human. Headaches are part of being a
human. Excruciating pain in childbirth is part of being a woman. They
are bad parts.
A good part of being a human is being able to prevent disease and to
ease pain. Why embrace the harmful, painful, or uncomfortable parts of
human nature, and reject those parts of human nature -- our species'
intelligence and resulting scientific acumen -- that diminish harm,
pain, and discomfort?
The cosmetic surgery analogy seems quite flawed, too. I have nothing
against cosmetic surgery myself, so long as the health risks don't
outweigh the benefits. At least, however, I can see the argument that
instead of changing our appearance we should change our mentality, and
stop caring as much about appearances.
But menstruation isn't about appearance. Women don't dislike it
chiefly because it "occurs in association with being female," because
it's "disgusting," or because it's "not-so-pretty." They dislike
because of the cramps, because of the mood swings, because of the
hassle. (I suppose that the desire not to get blood on one's clothes,
and the concomitant need to use various products to prevent that, can
be cast as a question about what's "disgusting" or "pretty," but both
men and women generally and understandably don't like bloodstains of
whatever sort. And in any case, as I understand it the physical
discomfort associated with menstruation is a much greater concern for
most women than just the universal desire not to get blood on things.)
And, of course, "it's more money for big pharm companies. That's all I
need to know." Of course, what more would anyone need to know? If you
want to decide whether some product is good, don't ask whether it
eases your pain, protects your health, or whatever else. Ask whether
some business you don't like will make money from your buying the
product. Have cramps, and when you do, feel good about it: "I'm in
pain, but at least Big Pharma is making less of a profit." Brilliant.
Thanks to [3]InstaPundit for the pointer.
References
1. http://althouse.blogspot.com/2007/05/stemming-red-tide.html
2.
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2007/05/stemming-red-tide.html#5869421367313596679
3. http://instapundit.com/
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