Birth Control

Birth control remains a highly controversial topic throughout the world. Birth control is any method that prevents birth; as such, it includes not only contraceptives and contragestives but also abortion—both chemical and surgical—and sterilization. Contraceptives are birth control methods that prevent fertilization of an egg by a sperm (conception). Contragestives are methods that prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg (embryo) after conception. Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus. Sterilization is a surgical procedure by which the male vas deferens or the female fallopian tubes are severed or removed. This entry will focus on the ethical dimensions of each type of birth control, as well as some of the issues that arise between birth control and business.

Different ethical dilemmas regarding birth control come to the forefront depending on when and where it is discussed and by whom. People of higher social class and/or from developed countries generally have more birth control options than those of lower social class or from developing countries. Birth control is also more of an issue for women since they can become pregnant. This difference is evident in the number of birth control options that involve female activity compared with those available for men.

Birth control generally is viewed in two ways: as population control and as a means to control when pregnancy occurs. Generally, the issues of birth control with regard to population control are discussed and regulated by government. For example, in China, women are forced to undergo surgical sterilization after giving birth due to the one-child policy the government has imposed in the hope of controlling the country's population growth. Governments may also adopt policies against birth control to ensure national survival. For example, abortion was banned in post–World War I France to encourage the birth of more French children.

The discussion on using birth control as a means to control when a woman will get pregnant occurs in many different venues. For example, the Roman Catholic Church is against most methods of birth control because it views controlling pregnancy as an attempt to thwart God's plan, thus attributing birth control to a lapse in Christian values. Viewing birth control as a means by which women can control when they will become pregnant has caused many feminist thinkers to support its use. Feminists believe that a woman should have the right to choose when she will become pregnant. The right to choose the timing and method of birth control can allow women more control over their life plan. Of course, a woman can be disempowered if the decision to use birth control is taken from her. To the extent that men exercise control over women's birth control choices, feminists see a pattern of patriarchal dominance.

There are many ways in which birth control issues affect businesses. These are some of the ethical questions companies may need to answer: Is it ethical to produce and sell birth control products? Is it ethical for some birth control methods to be easily available to minors or unmarried women? Is it ethical to provide birth control through health insurance paid for by the company? Is it ethical to cover some birth control options through company health insurance but not others? As will be discussed later, some businesses have been criticized by public activists for their answers to such questions.

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