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Split The Tab! Negotiating Contraceptive Equality In Relationships | Sex Really
To recap the latest in contraceptive news: the new birth control legislation will provide free coverage for many Americans, but there are still plenty of folks who won’t qualify. If you’re one of the unlucky people without full coverage, you might want to consider talking to your partner about splitting the bill. That’s the subject of my latest webisode for Sex Really, and it’s a pretty tricky one to tackle. When I write for teen audiences, I frequently get asked, “How do I know if I’m ready for sex?” and as a general rule of thumb, I think if you’re not ready to talk about sex and its ramifications, then you’re not ready to be having it. One can apply that to relationships too — you should be getting down with people with whom you can discuss What Ifs and sexual histories and preferred condom brands! That said, the reality is that there are such things as stranger sex and ill-defined faux-mances. We don’t always know the folks we fuck, these can be really awkward conversations to have, and depending on the nature of your relationship, financial assistance from a partner might not be something with which you’re comfortable. (Not to mention that our partners can be just as strapped for cash as we are, and it can be hard to determine how much of reproductive health costs should be shared.)
All of that is to say that I understand if you don’t want to bring up prescriptions and co-pays on your next date. There are, however, some pretty huge ramifications to shouldering the cost of contraception alone, so if your partner is in a position to help out, I encourage you to have that conversation. Check out this informal Urtak poll I conducted of readers:
- A quarter of respondents have stopped using birth control or switched methods due to cost.
- 31 percent of respondents said that cost has deterred them from obtaining a prescription.
- Only 36 percent of respondents have ever split the cost with a partner.
- Nearly half of respondents would try a different method if cost weren’t a factor.
- And perhaps unsurprisingly, those who had experienced an unintended pregnancy were also more likely to report that cost had played a role in their contraceptive decision-making.
Want to know how you can start a conversation about sharing costs? Four women offer their experiences, perspectives, and strategies on the latest episode of Sex Really.
(via lenachen)
Sex Really With Lena Chen | How Much Do You Spend on Birth Control?
Check out the latest episode, featuring different women discussing their preferred method and how much it costs them each month. You might be surprised at how it adds up!
In the accompanying article on SexReally.com (a project of the National Campaign To Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy), I discuss how cost played a role in my own contraceptive decision-making.
This video is part of the We’ve Got You Covered/Birth Control Matters blog carnival hosted by the National Women’s Law Center & Planned Parenthood.
(Source: lenachen)
Sex Really With Lena Chen | Back Up Your Birth Control! (via SexReally)
Happy Back Up Your Birth Control Day! In this episode, I give the ABC’s on EC and talk about what you need to know about getting a birth control back-up plan. How many of you guys have had to use emergency contraception? And how many of you keep it on hand just in case? If you’re of the mindset that a back-up method is for “other people”, you need to watch this episode, read my Sex Really post debunking EC myths, and find out why contraceptive failure can affect anyone!
Throughout the day, I’ll be tweeting, along with many other lovely folks, under the hashtag #BackItUp. Follow me on Twitter to see emergency contraception myths debunked. Wanna help spread the word? Reblog this post, share the short URL (http://youtu.be/BTsTiIcmBiw) on Twitter and Facebook, and send your friends a funny e-card reminding them to BACK IT UP today.
Need free access to emergency contraception? Start by checking out Planned Parenthood, which offers sliding scale services. Run a Google search for state-funded clinics. (For example, New York City’s Health Department has confidential clinics throughout the city which offer free EC.) And if you ever need help locating affordable, local birth control or emergency contraception, email me a note (lena at lenachen dot com) with your geographic info and I’ll consult my sources! (This is a standing offer.)
For more information about emergency contraception, visit Bedsider.org to find out your options and use the clinic locator. To learn more about the Back Up Your Birth Control National Day of Action, a campaign of the National Institute For Reproductive Health, check out the official website.
(via lenachen)
In this episode of Sex Really with Lena Chen, three feminist women — Chloe Angyal from Feministing, Amelia Parry-McDonell from The Frisky, and Zoe Yang, former Pomona College sex columnist — talk about all the ins and outs of gender equality in dating and sex: What makes the personal political? What constitutes a dealbreaker? And perhaps trickiest of all, how does one “come out” to a date as a feminist?
Sex Really with Lena Chen | Episode 3
(Source: youtube.com, via lenachen)
Second episode of Sex Really With Lena Chen is “The Beginner’s Guide To Sex Toys”. This time, I take a field trip to Babeland (NYC’s Lower East Side location) to compose a novice’s guide to sex toy shopping. Also, I created opening credits that incorporate footage of a humping Hamlet. Please watch and learn.
Sex Really with Lena Chen | Episode 2
What You Need To Know About The IUD: The Latest Birth Control Trend
Sex Really with Lena Chen | Episode 1
