The War on Women's Health is Real

Religious conservatives continue to push laws restricting access to women's healthcare across the country. This short documentary brings attention to their efforts and outlines the importance of broad access to contraceptive options.

Featured interviews include Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23), who as a former nurse has long been a leader on women's health issues; Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List; and Dr. Kimberly Shepherd, an OB/GYN who provides medical authority on issues that never should've been politicized in the first place.

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This documentary film was produced and edited by Chase Whiteside (interviews), Erick Stoll (camera), and Liz Cambron.

Graphic design by Chase Whiteside.
Motion design by Ashley Walton.
Music from the brilliant Jon Brion.

Thanks:
Sean Barma, Laura Dawn, EMILY's List, Emma Shapiro, Ashley Schapitl, Rick Pender, Jay Marose, Victoria Shantrell

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Citations:
13: FY 2011

[stdTrancR]

someone please explain to me what happens to the soul of an unborn fetus when they are aborted... i really want to know.

[tangerinefarmer]

Their religious beliefs play a large role in their insane ideology concerning women.

[Nrdfightermom]

Great job! Sharing with everyone I know. This is important!

[TheJValiante]

Christ, did some of you even watch the video?

[SurfacelessMusic]

Posted this on all my social media outlets. Thank you for giving people who care some citable material to aid in the fight against stupidity and tyranny.

[torricosf]

WOW, super video. Congrats NLM, you guys are going places :)

[rnidess]

Once you believe that your god (however that's defined) has delivered the 'truth' to you and that any deviation from that 'truth' cannot be tolerated then you end up with the politicization of all issues because no set of 'man-made' values can supersede 'god's law'.  Women's health being one case in point.

[aubreyeisel]

I'm a full time college student and full time single parent, and despite working a full time job, I have had to resort to using government aid for my daughter's and my health care. It's not something I am proud of, but it IS necessary. I don't look for hand outs wherever I can. I don't believe I'm "entitled" to assistance, but I do work my butt off to be worthy of it.

And FYI-it would cost the government a lot more to pay the hospital bill for becoming critically anemic than for contraceptives.

[krismc]

Part of what is unsettling with recent lawmakers who encounter this issue is not just about contraception. It has to do with cutting Title X funding, the only federal funding for family planning, which also provides for cancer screening and pap smears for women, and many more health related services. Also, places like Planned Parenthood, which is funded by Title X, also do procedures like vasectomies, so unfortunately men with little or no insurance coverage will also be affected.

[karakarachu]

The problem with some laws and amendments is that they are unclear to what the range of that service is. Sometimes, it isn't even the right way to address a certain problem. It also hits some moral values the population holds on to.
Laws like these won't make such a dilemma if there aren't people who actively do self harming things. The real problem we have is that a lot of people chose not to act responsibly because they rather have fleeting moments of gratification. This pertains to all vices.

[LucGendrot]

I absolutely love every video you've put out, Chase, you are a shining example of what good journalism is, and I always look forward to your new videos.

[krismc]

And seriously, it's kind of nice to be discussing this with someone who doesn't go into insulting rants and name-calling but actually has legitimate arguments.

[Analyst]

Good to see you guys back!

Super video

[MsKeroseneLamp]

"Preventive health services save money." Yes for the individual, but not for the government. When you save money, the government LOSES money. And money is one thing the government hates losing out on.

[xxxaudiophilexxx]

OMG ! This is the height of idiocy and misandry.
0:30 'They wanna control how we dress, how we act'
Dress - Ban on mens saggy pants? Women walk around in thongs and display cleavages even in work place !
Act - Men should not swear near women, talk indecently or tell indecent jokes around women ?
1:34 'Men can buy condoms at any supermarket, women dont have that right'
Men: Condoms
Women: female condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, contraceptive sponges and IUD's
Didnt bother watching the rest...

Talking about equality
Men are not allowed to take pills as a contraceptive, atleast women have a choice after consulting her doctor.

[TheeBeastradamus]

Good to see some new stuff from you guys!!! Been a sub since nearly the beginning.

[trollsofalabama]

-prevents extremely bad jojo, like cancer and other life threatening medical problems
-can reduce the burden of periods by making them lighter, shorter, and more regular
-can almost be advertised less of a way of birth control and more of a way to help women deal with various health situations (this might be wise for the industry to just do that, step away from birth control)
-gives a woman the right to not be pregnant (while some might argue that to not be pregnant, just dont have sex...

[serdna]

Whoah!
I'm an Spaniard, and man, whoever told you that, got it backwards.
At Spain, we had to pay part of our meds ourselves, and the other part was paid by the government health system, which in turn doesn't charge us for appointments to the doctor, the specialist, or treatment at the hospital. What changed is that they are now paying less a part for the meds of people of certain demographics. Worry not, seniors have to pay around 10 dollars of meds a month tops.
We still have it better here.

[Roccicious]

They sell it for $9 a month AFTER you go to the doctor and get your prescription. Which if you don't have health insurance will end up costing over $200 as a whole.

[krismc]

Birth control is not used just for avoiding pregnancy, that's what people don't understand. And investing in contraception is investing in preventative healthcare. Also, I never said taxpayers should be required to pay for condoms. What I said was that comparing men's options to women's options shows that the government restricts men's reproductive choices a lot less than they do women. And if we already pay taxes for programs like welfare, then it's smarter to pay for contraception.