In yet another unfortunate story perpetuating rape culture in America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an insanely condescending health warning on Tuesday, recommending all fertile women get on birth control or stop drinking alcohol.
According to the infographic, 3.3 million US women are at risk of exposing their babies to alcohol -- their hypothetical babies, that is.
While excessive alcohol use during pregnancy has been known to cause fetal alcohol syndrome, the debate over minimal alcohol consumption during pregnancy rages on. Inexplicably, the CDC has expanded its health warnings to include women who aren't even trying to conceive.
CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat said in the press release,
About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and even if planned, most women won't know they are pregnant for the first month or so, when they might still be drinking. The risk is real. Why take the chance?
So, what you're saying is, women should stop drinking alcohol altogether in the unlikely case they get pregnant?
Hey, assh*les, maybe if sexually active, at-risk women had access to free birth control, this wouldn't be a problem in the first place. If only there were a place that provided such necessary services...
Oh, wait, that magical place exists. It's called Planned Parenthood.
Once again putting the responsibility of procreation solely on women, the CDC goes on to suggest women better sober up if they're not trying to get beaten or raped.
Just take this fun "fact" from the CDC: Drinking too much can give women STDs. "Drinking too much can have many risks for women," states the infographic, including "injuries/violence, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases."
That's right, ladies; one too many gin and tonics and you'll instantly contract genital herpes.
It also should be noted that in the fact sheet for men, the CDC states,
Excessive alcohol use is commonly involved in sexual assault.
It's not like rapists are involved in sexual assault or anything; it's that pesky devil's drink that's to blame.
Ultimately, it all comes down to money. Drinking while pregnant reportedly costs the US government $5.5 billion a year, which you'd think would make it more likely to promote health services for women.
Only the Senate recently voted to defund Planned Parenthood. What kind of wacky, backwards world is this, anyway?
Check out the delightful infographic below and try not to rip your hair out in the process.
Citations: More than 3 million US women at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy (CDC)
