Family Planning In The Investigation Sources Sociology Essay

This investigation is about family planning and the different methods that people can choose from. Choosing from these different methods can help with overpopulation. During this investigation I plan on using different sources to find examples of different methods of family planning. I chose this topic because I feel as though there are a lot of people in my generation who are becoming pregnant and don’t have a clue as to how they could have prevented it. Then, I thought about the economic crisis that’s going on in the world and thought that if people thought more about the struggle and the cost to take care of a baby then they would have a family plan. Also, more people in such crisis tend to cause overpopulation which leads to poverty.

The two sources I have decided to choose from, during this investigation will be www.buzzle.com <Different Methods of Family Planning> and Family planning in an Exploding Population <John A. O’Brien, Hawthorne Books, Inc.-Publishers- New York 1968>

Part B: Summary of Evidence

Family Planning is a method of planning when to have children. You are basically in control of when you are ready to start a family. It is definitely a good thing to have a family plan, that way you know for sure you are ready to have a family and you are financially ready as well. More information on birth control is needed so that men and women all over the world can plan the number of children- sensibly, safely, and certainly ( O’Brien 54). However, in a broader social and political context, more information on birth control is needed because: 1.) the world is running out of space, i.e., good-quality living space. 2.) the world is running out of food. 3.) the world is running out of fresh, drinkable water and even running out of fresh air fit for breathing in many areas. 4.) the world is using up its irreplaceable resources at rapidly increasing rate. 5.) the increasing population densities of many countries, including the United States, are causing many social problems of steady increasing magnitudes (O’Brien 55). Birth control is the only hope of preserving social and political stability on this planet. Lower birth rates are needed in most of the world in order to give science and society time to solve these multiplying problems (O’Brien 58). A world where people can have the number of children they want and can care for, rather than any number of children that they don’t know how to prevent, will be a more prosperous world, a better and safer world (O’Brien 28).

In today’s age when couples are busy with their respective careers, many are opting for smaller families or sometimes no children at all (Buzzle). There are two types of family planning methods and they are the natural method and the artificial method. The natural consist of abstinence, which is when a person chooses to refrain from sexual intercourse during the days when the female is fertile, so that they will not have to take any artificial contraceptives. Natural family planning is normally chosen by people who have certain religious reasons or because they are not able to take contraceptives due to health reasons (Buzzle). The best thing about natural methods of avoiding pregnancy is that they do not have any negative effects; however, to follow this method couples have to be determined and disciplined (Buzzle). Then for artificial methods there are condoms, which are the most commonly, used when trying to prevent pregnancy and STD (Buzzle). There are still a chance that people can become pregnant after using condoms, this is because the condom was either defective or used incorrectly. Condoms are made of latex and there are people who are allergic to latex so they choose not to use condoms as a method of their choice. Next, there are the birth control pills and emergency pills; these are oral contraceptives that restrict the development of the egg. The emergency pill can be used immediately after a couple engages in unsafe sex and this will reduce the chances of becoming pregnant (Buzzle). These artificial methods also come with many negative side effects. But with all of these methods there is still a chance of becoming pregnant; none of these methods are 100 %.

As for religious reasoning as to why some people choose not to go with the artificial method; Catholics feel as though that God created sexual intercourse for procreation; Catholics see the use of contraceptives, hormonal and barrier are unacceptable. For a couple to purposely stop an egg and sperm from joining is a sin. They feel as though couples should have as many children as their circumstances may allow. But at the same time it is morally okay for one of the Catholic religion to use the natural family planning. Natural family planning tends to bring most couples closer; these short moments of abstinence are during the time of a women’s menstrual cycle.

Part C: Evaluation of Sources

The book, Family Planning in an Exploding Population, by John A. O’Brien was a very helpful source during my investigation. This source’s purpose for this information is to open up the eyes of the world and tell them some very true information. Everything he says is actually correct when you think about it. By writing this book the author was definitely trying to put out a message that everyone needs to take in the consideration of family planning. Without family planning this world is going down; people are going to die very rapidly. I think that this information was very useful because it helped me see another side to family planning. I never thought that failure to use a family planning method will lead to overpopulation and eventually, poverty; this book won me over. Only thing that I would question about this book is the statistics given.

I would question the statistics given in this book mainly because this book was published in 1968; the statistics are old; I’m sure that the population growth has grown tremendously since then.

The website, www.buzzle.com had a section about the different methods of family planning and it was very helpful as well. I couldn’t find an author for this exact section. This website told you all of the different methods of family planning, whether they were natural or artificial. Along with the different methods was a description of each method and how it worked; I think that is helpful to those who don’t know their options. The purpose of this website was to educate those who don’t know the many different options that they may have about planning for a future family. Also, that maybe people will start putting some of these methods to work and be smarter about the decisions that they make; starting a family is a big step in a person’s life. Not only is it a big step it is hard work. One must be committed to the change in their life. As for this source there is nothing that I would question; the information was very useful and informative.

Part D: Anaylsis

Family planning should play a big role in every household; no exceptions. Without family planning the death rate in the world is going to keep increasing at great rates. We are losing a lot of natural resources that we will not be able to get back once they are gone. These resources are diminishing because of the overpopulation and the scarcity of things that we have. All of this could be decreased at a slower pace if more people took the time out to use a method of family planning. I feel like there are many options to choose from so there should be a preference for everyone, everyone might not prefer the same method, which is okay. Most people have no idea how many different options that they have. In Asia, poverty has reached its greatest depth and this is a result of not using family planning sufficiently. For example Asia, Africa, and Latin America are the three poorest continents but yet the population growth is on a rampage and not only that but their food production rate is behind the population growth rate. The death rates are going to be hard to control with majority of the population is in a desperate need of food. People don’t seem to think about the consequences/outcome of things. Some seem to think that food production can be increased but it will take time. Time is definitely a crucial factor but the world doesn’t have any time. Not only this but it is also said that money can solve these issues but the only way the issues can be resolved is if the population rate can be reduced.

Birth control is the only hope to help with lower birth rates in order to give science and society time to solve these multiplying problems. In fact, it may already be too late for birth control to have any real impact on the impending world food/population problem which seems likely to reach crisis proportions within the next ten years (O’Brien 59). If birth rates do not decline than the problems will just get larger. The quicker people begin to take action, the better. The failure to use family planning is definitely a world spread issue. The continuous high birth rates will lead to poverty. The control of fertility may not feed or clothe everyone throughout the world but it would make a difference. It is believed that if more help with the problem of unplanned population growth then the world would be okay. Too rapid population growth seriously hampers efforts to raise living standards, to further education, to improve health and sanitation, to provide better housing and transportation, to forward cultural and recreational opportunities-and even in some countries to assure sufficient food (O’Brien 137). Some say that a great majority of parents desire to have the knowledge that it take to go about birth control and having children; that the opportunity to decide the number and spacing of the children is a basic human right. But what people fail to realize is that family planning is not a restriction; family planning is for enriching human life. No one wants to go about life with the thought of how they are going to get their next meal.

Part E: Conclusion

Recognizing that family planning is in the interest of the nation and the families, people will be smarter about their decisions; people will think about not only their children’s future but theirs as well.

My two sources give readers more than enough information needed to educate them on a very serious topic. Most people don’t have the knowledge it takes to go about family planning but it’s in these sources that I used. I felt like I learned more than what I knew to start off with.

In my ideal world, more people would take the initiative to think about not only themselves but others. People having children not only affect their lives but it affects the lives of others as well. I think that the world would be a better place if people could live their lives without having to think about how they are going to provide for their families. Times are hard and like I said before, taking care of children is not cheap at all. I feel as though having a child is something people should take very seriously; having sex comes with consequences that can change your life forever. People should definitely take that step towards family planning and giving it some thought before actually following through with their plan. No one ask to be brought in to the world and I feel like if you are going to have a baby at least be able to take care of you and your child . There are people who have children but can barely take care of themselves; this is where family planning comes in, take the time to think whether this is a decision you are ready to make.

Appendix A

http://www.economywatch.com/world-country/population.html

According to the 2008 data, the distribution of the world population among different regions was as follows:

World – 6,707 millions

Africa – 973 millions

Asia – 4,054 millions

Europe – 732 millions

North America – 337 millions

Latin America and the Caribbean – 577 millions

Oceania – 34 millions

Appendix B

This pie chart shows the number of hungry people in the world, during 2010.

(http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm#What_are_the_causes_of_hunger)