Note: I received this message from L (who preferred not to be named out of fear for her job), and I thought it was too important not to share. With her permission, I've posted her email below with the hope that the fabulous readers here can give L some advice about how to deal with this situation. I'd also like to say that L's story goes to show how despite laws and store policies, extremist pharmacists are still denying women access to legal contraceptives and medication.
So far I have not had to purchase or use Plan B for myself, so this story doesn't necessarily concern me, per se. However, I do work at a pharmacy, so maybe I can tell you what it's like from the front lines. I'll just come out and say that I work for Wal-Mart, and I always feel a sense of shame saying that. It's a long story as to why I continue to work there, but that's not really the point of all this anyway. Here's a bit of background: We have a male pharmacist who works at our store and he is a fundamentalist, Conservative (yes, with a capital 'C') Christian. We have 2 female pharmacists and our former manager was male. All of the pharmacy techs at our store are women, ranging in age from 25 to 45, most married/divorced with children.
When Plan B went over the counter a couple of years ago, the Conservative pharmacist brought in a couple of things he had found on 'pro-life' websites that said Plan B was an abortifacient. He had talked to our manager at the time about his feelings on the matter and the fact that he didn't want to dispense Plan B, citing his religious beliefs. The manager did not have a problem selling it, but he thought that the best thing to do would be to not stock it at all, that way the Conservative pharmacist wouldn't be put in a situation where he felt compromised. Wal-Mart's official policy, however, is that even if no one in the pharmacy wants to sell Plan B, we have to have it stocked on the shelf.
The women in the pharmacy, despite our political and/or religious beliefs, all agreed that we had no problem selling it, if for no other reason than the fact that there may be a girl or woman who needs Plan B because she has been raped. But this one particular pharmacist has blocked it. We are not allowed to order it, and if some does come in our order from the warehouse, he immediately arranges for it to be sent back to the warehouse. If someone calls asking for Plan B, we're supposed to say that we've run out of stock. I'm ashamed to admit that I have told people this, but I do always refer them to one of the many other pharmacies in town (there are literally about 30 others, ranging from small independents to large chains, some that are open 24-hours) that definitely carry it. We had a woman bring in a prescription for her 16-year-old daughter for Plan B, and we had to tell her to go to another pharmacy. I wish I had the balls to stand up to him, and I know ways that I could do that, but I'm a coward. However, I have definitely decided that in the future I will tell people straight up that the reason we don't have it is because of this one pharmacist. Our manager quit last month and we're in the process of hiring a new manager, so hopefully we'll get someone who does have some balls (or ovaries!) and we can back him/her up on the matter. This pharmacist apparently has NO problem dispensing birth control or Viagra/Cialis/Levitra, however.
I also wanted to say that it's not just Plan B that pharmacists will refuse to fill/dispense. There have been 2 specific occasions that I can recall where women have brought in prescriptions for Cytotec (misoprostol) and a pain pill, which is often used when women have had a miscarriage to pass any tissue that may be left. This pharmacist immediately began to question the doctor's prescription and whether it was being used to cause an abortion. In both instances, he wound up talking to the women about it, I guess so he could have a 'clear conscience' about it. One of the women had her young son with her, and she had to tell him to step aside so she could explain to the pharmacist that, yes, she had had a miscarriage and that was why the doctor had prescribed it. I should also mention that he keeps a list of 'abortion alternatives' (phone #s for crisis pregnancy centers in this town and a couple of surrounding towns) next to his computer - you know, just in case.
On the surface this email seems calm, but I am screaming on the inside just thinking about these situations and how I felt powerless to do anything. Anyway, I hope this helps someone.
PS - I love Feministing! :)
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What an awesome and moving post. While I understand that you feel that you cannot confront this pharmacist because you need your job (which is the assumed reason anyone works at Wal-Mart), I wonder if you have thought to contact any advocates for reproductive rights such as Planned Parenthood, or maybe file a complaint with your state Board of Pharmacy (in Texas the # is 800-821-3205, option 5)?
Good luck with the new manager.
Perhaps L can get the other women together to write a letter to the manager requesting he reverse his decision.
...per store policy, and due to the fact that overwhelming majority of employees of the pharmacy who feel it would be in the best interests of customers and the store to stock and dispense Plan B.
Perhaps the conservative pharmacist need not himself personally hand it over.
Sounds like this guy is a Grade A jackass.
I agree with Alby D. You should totally contact the Board of Pharmacy.
Who is in charge of hiring the new manager? Do you have any pull with them? I would talk to them about your grievances.
Something that one of our chapters in Virginia did was create a complete directory of reproductive health/rights/justice services in their community and listed what they provided. If you're interested in seeing it shoot me an e-mail. jlawson@choiceusa.org
Take care, stay strong, and best of luck.
He does realize that he has no right to ask those women why they are being prescribed those drugs, right?
I understand the pain of having to stay in a shitty situation because you need the job. But damn... I would be desperately tempted to tell those women, "You do realize you don't have to answer his questions, right?"
I think this is great. Maybe you should have more anynomous letters asking for help, perhaps even a column dealing with daily abuses suffered by readers?
a. you need to find another job. I realize this is incredibly awful and difficult thing to do, but honestly, you just need to do it. Nothing is being gained by you staying there except for that asshole's own personal pleasure of looking down to you.
b. you need to contact corporate- STAT. If it's Walmart policy to stock EC then it's Walmart policy. End of discussion.
c. There must be someone at your store who is essentially above this pharmacist. Perhaps a supervisor... a manager... an overall store boss??
d. I would try contacting one of the free legal advocacy lines, as they may offer some insight into what you can and should do. I know that in MA, we have access to "LARC," legal advocacy and resource center, and I'm sure if you google LARC in your area something will come up.
That's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure feministing readers will come up with even better ideas. Good luck!
Also, If i remember correctly all pharmacies are required to have at least one pharmacist on staff that will dispense EC. Can anyone remember if this is proposed legislation or if it is already law?
I would definitely contact corporate. If this pharmacist refuses to respect the customer's rights *and* (more importantly to Wal-Mart of course) he is chasing away customers with his behavior, then Wal-Mart corporate should absolutely be informed and asked to step in. Perhaps if any of the women who come in asking for Plan B or Cytotec (etc) have a problem with being told "it's unavailable and this is why", you could suggest that THEY contact corporate as well.
Part of me wants to say "Well at least the guy is willing to fill standard birth control prescriptions", but it could be simply a matter of time before he finds literature indicating that *those* might be abortifacients too.
Here's a summary of the state laws:
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/ConscienceClauses.htm
"If someone calls asking for Plan B, we're supposed to say that we've run out of stock."
At the very least you need to start being honest with your customers. If this man wants to take a stand on his values, then why is he hiding them?
What about discretely (maybe even anonymously) contacting the WalMart corporate headquarters about the problem?
I just... grrrr.... I just can't start into what an entitled ass this guy is.
Here is an article - peer-reviewed and written by a Princeton Professor, stating that EC is not an abortifacient.
Perhaps you could show this to him to ease his mind that he is not, in fact, promoting abortion.
ec.princeton.edu/references/Mechanism_of_action_Contraception2006.pdf -
At the very basic level, forgetting all moral and ethical things going on in this situation, this pharmacist is not following Walmart policy, which, in most corporations and retail outlets, is grounds for dismissal, suspension or other disciplinary action. There should be someone above the pharmacist that you can contact such as your store manager. I know in most CANADIAN companies this kind of situation would even count as harrassment, so depending on where you are in the U.S. it might be the same there. Either way, at the most basic level he is neglecting to follow Walmart policy and you should contact corporate or your store manager, even if all you say is that he's neglecting store policy.
Walmart must certainly have an anonymous employee reporting phone number. All the big corporations I've worked for have these, it's posted places at work, the HR know about it etc. He is breaking company policy, those are the grounds you need to go on, and you are reporting THAT. That should be sufficient to warrant disciplinary action. It sounds like you don't feel comfortable but the Store's General Manager should be told,if not - use the anonymous report line. That is reprehensible.
Does Wal-Mart have a human resources contact person for employees? This might a route to go through at the corporate level. I also encourage you to talk with your other co-workers to see if anyone else is troubled by this and would back you up. This pharmacist is clearly violating store policy AND is putting the burden on the rest of you to lie for him. I expect that corporate would see this as a problem. Try to be calm and respectful as you explain the situation and the difficult position he has put you and your coworkers in so they will really listen to you.
Document, Document, Document. If you don't already, right down the date, time, and description of every relevant incident. Include every time a person calls asking for it, every time a person comes by to fill the prescription and is turned away, every inappropriate comment this guy makes to any employee or customer. Corporate almost always wants a document like this. Also, look at your employee handbook and see if there are rules about political/religious proselytizing in the workplace. A lot of workplaces prohibit the discussion of controversial subjects on the clock, especially in front of customers/clients. If you have a policy like that, it is one more way this guy is violating corporate mandates and costing the company money, both by turning away customers and potentially turning off customers within earshot.
I would add to the many useful suggestions here a blind (no name) letter to the CEO of Wal-Mart that includes all the documentation. Then sit back and watch the investigation proceed. They're losing money. That's not something a CEO likes to see.
Sorry to be a pest, but here's info on whom to write to:
Lee Scott
Wal-Mart President & CEO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716 USA
William S. Simon
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Wal-Mart Stores Division
Jack L. Sinclair
Executive Vice President, Grocery Division, Wal-Mart Stores Division
Gregory E. Spragg
Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Replenishment, Sam’s Club
S. Robson Walton
Chairman of the Board of Directors
John T. Westling
Executive Vice President, Replenishment, Pricing and Planning, Wal-Mart Stores Division
Steven P. Whaley
Senior Vice President and Controller
Eric S. Zorn
Executive Vice President, President, Wal-Mart Realty, Wal-Mart Stores Division
why the fuck did this guy become a pharmacist?
If this is going against the chain's policy (as she says it is) it needs to be reported to corporate HQ first of all.
Second of all, I feel that a pharmacy licensing board should be made aware of his actions. Especially that he is willing to blatantly ignore his company's policy in an attempt to mislead patients and impose his views on them, that's a problem. If nothing else, refusal to stock something against company policy is unethical.
She could also print out real research on Plan B and discretely and anonymously leave it on his desk.
my advice would be to contact your human resources department tout-suite. they're specifically trained to deal with issues employees have with one another (though i know your problem with this employee isn't personal), but HR should respect your confidentiality.
ugh. what a tool that guy is. (yanno, i've read the bible. nowhere in it is it indicated that it's okay to lie. oi.)
Maybe we could all phone the pharmacy asking for PlanB -- y'know, just to get it on the radar?
haha it's not even "why the fuck did this guy become a pharmacist?". it's really how? I mean why doesn't he know it isn't an abortificant? What a shitty pharmacist I wouldn't trust a person who didn't know that plan B doesn't even fucking work if there has been inplantation i.e. pregnant. hfaskjhksa agh!
By questioning prescriptions, he is essentially accusing women who have had miscarriages of purposely inducing abortions. If someone had done that after my miscarriage, when I was already at my lowest point in my entire life, I would have felt dirty, and trust me, I was already feeling pretty bad and guilty. He's a sleaze.
I also want to say to L. that she should not beat herself up. It is not easy to be in that situation. When the boss doesn't stand up, it is even harder for you to.
I was also wondering if there was a way for someone to call in a complaint as a customer, to avoid any retribution. Which is not necessarily the ideal way, but when you are scared, it is another option.
L, what to do next really depends on what you want to happen. Do you want to change this man's mind? If so, there's heaps of info out there about the difference between Plan B and abortion, and much has been linked to already. Leave it on his desk, pin it up on the bulletin-board at work, school yourself and start a debate with him... whatever you feel comfortable doing.
Honestly though, it doesn't sound like he's going to change easily, and regardless, it's not your responsibility to educate the neanderthals in your life, particularly when they hold positions of power in your workplace.
You may choose, as people have suggested, to look elsewhere for a job in a workplace not populated by idiots. You'll know whether this is an option for you or not. It won't change what's happening at Walmart though.
Attempting to resolve the matter through Walmart's own internal structure sounds like the most likely way to change things and keep your job. As pom said, "Document Document Document". Do that right now. Then write up a letter and call Head Office. Be anonymous if you wish, but is that neccesary? You're doing the right thing by Walmart in reporting a staff member who is breaking policy and denying them sales. He's also opening Walmart up to legal action by the women affected, and no company wants to get sued. (Though you'd think Walmart'd be used to it by now.)
Think about other ways a staff member could be breaching company policy. What if he was taking a tip for every prescription filled, or giving cash refunds to people without proper info or whatever? Of course Walmart Head Office would want to hear about it.
Laws and store policies only work when they're enforced. We all need courageous witnesses to report breaches whenever they see them. Thank you for realising what was happening here and for not just standing around thinking it was somebody else's problem. So many women will be better off because you cared - even if they never know it.
We had this problem in my town with a (local) pharmacist who refused to sell Plan B in their two stores. People boycotted the (grocery) stores.
We had this problem in my town with a (local) pharmacist who refused to sell Plan B in their two stores. People boycotted the (grocery) stores because of it.
If you call corporate, make sure to emphasize that you are turning away and possibly permanently losing customers. Nothing pisses off the big guys like an employee-related loss of sales. As my store manager has said, to them it is all about the almighty dollar. Might as well use the best leverage.
A Plan B-in: Every 10 minutes, someone comes in and requests Plan B, and asks why it isn't available, when it will be, and who to complain to.
to geekgirlsrule
that's such a good idea about the column for daily abuses!
I'm new btw hello everyone!
It's so sad that in 2008 women's rights are still under fire.
Which why I'm taking a women's studies class and thinking about double majoring with political sciences in the fall for my freshman year of college.
So I can fight assholes like the guy in the article.
This jerk can't be the only one in the country; he can't even be the only Wal-Mart employee! This should be the start of a serious whistle-blowing investigative news article. Big media embarrassment would go a lot farther than a few letters...
Mama Mia I *love* that idea! And it should end with actual complaints to the store and Head Office. Our L oculd just sit back and watch, smiling quietly to herself.
Jesus, I feel that denying Plan B already makes you a scumbag (I only got a dirty look the one time I needed it..) but denying medication to a woman who had a miscarriage!?!?!??
THAT makes me want to scream- how DARE you imply these women are at fault for their circumstance, based on some right wing whackjob's opinion on possible abortifacients, likely found on a questionable website. How do these mouthbreathers make it through school in the first place?
As a Pharmacist myself I have a problem with these two sentences.
"the Conservative pharmacist brought in a couple of things he had found on 'pro-life' websites that said Plan B was an abortifacient....
This pharmacist apparently has NO problem dispensing birth control or Viagra/Cialis/Levitra, however."
1. If he was a competent pharmacist he would not be looking to a website to determine if Plan B is and abortifacient. All he would need to do is look to the package insert to read its mechanism of action to see that it isn't. It is to put it simply a highly concentrated form of standard birth control.
which brings me to 2. if he has no difficulty dispensing standard birth control and since there is no difference and then he should have no problem dispensing Plan B
I know that a few pharmacist out there ruin it for the rest of us. Please be assured that there are lots of us who truly care about our patients as people, who not only need access to the correct medication but the comfort that we are not judging the reason that you stepped to our counter. We do exist and I am truly sorry if you happen upon the bad eggs in my profession. Hopefully with the pharmacy schools being comprised primally with females these days this will become a thing of the past.
This story made me very angry and sad at the same time. Please send anyone you see in need of Plan B to Planned Parenthood. We try to do everything we can for women (and partners) who need EC or anything in the reproductive health field.
I hope that you find a solution that will work out for you, and know that we are just as angry and annoyed of this injustice.
This happened to me! I try to patronize our local pharmacy because I like to support the local economy. I lost my pill pack and had a standing prescription for Plan B, which I took in to this pharmacy to ensure that I didn't get pregnant. The pharmacist (who is the owner) said, "Oh, we don't stock this." When I asked why, he tried to say that no one ever bought it so it wasn't worth keeping in stock. Which is bullshit. There's a Target nearby, and he suggested I try there, but he'd be glad to fill the prescription for my BC pills. Um, no thanks, you can go ahead and transfer that over to Target.
Due to medical conditions and associated medicines, my wife has been advised that she absolutely must not get pregnant. In addition to birth control, Plan B was suggested as an emergency backup should it become necessary.
Unfortunately my wife cannot get around much right now. Actually has not been able to do so for a while and it will be some time before she can.
She sent me to walmart (McPherson, KS) to get the Plan B but they refused to sell it to me. The reason being they felt there was a significant risk of abuse by husbands/boyfriends/rapists to force a woman to take the drug against their will. This is supposedly Walmart policy. They will not accept anything short of her coming in personally to purchase it.
My wife was exceptionally angry at this (I was too naturally), but with everything going on right now, she doesn't have the energy to fight with them.
Does anybody know if this is indeed the official walmart policy? Nothing like being told that I am suspected of abusing my wife!
I applaud you for wanting to change the situation. I agree with most of the advice and comments already stated here, with the exception of leaving your job. I will not question your knowing what is best for you in your current circumstances.
I offer these two ideas, sorry if they seem a little "out there":
1.) You may want to check in with Walmartwatch.com and see if they have any help or advice to offer you. If you don't know, Wal-Mart Watch is an organization that (rather than attempt to shut down the mega-mart) works to both inform the public about employment conditions and hold Wal-Mart accountable for their actions and policies.
2.) If you can't get any response from Corporate, perhaps contact a local t.v. news station that does segments on consumer complaints and let them go the route of bad publicity via investigative reporting. I know it's a dirty trick, but it's about keeping businesses honest.
I hope your new manager is an improvement!
I cannot wrap my mind around how this Pharmacist thinks that it is Christian to question women concerning a prescription that is mainly given when a woman has suffered a miscarriage. Wow, way to be sensitive to the feelings of other human beings. What happened to treat others as you would wish to be treated? I am sure that if corporate was contacted about this pharmacist something would come of it. Wal-Mart may be a huge faceless corporation but the one thing that they will understand is loss of profits...and it sounds like this Pharmacist is costing them sales. I still do not understand why someone's religious beliefs are allowed to dictate their actions as a professional. Especially if it impedes on other people's right to access legal and safe drugs.
Miles, I am sorry to hear of your experience while trying to fill your wife's prescription. I would encourage you to call Wal-Mart's corporate line and inquire with them as to what their store policy is. Also, if it turns out that that is their policy...that's a pretty ridiculous policy. The same thing could be said of any drug which could be forcefully given to someone. They shouldn't have implied that you are abusing your wife, that kind of unfounded accusation borders on defamation of character.
I'll post this on our Walmart specific site:
http://TheWritingOnTheWal.net
I'll also send a note to WalmartWatch which is run by several unions. They love stories like this.
To whomever wrote this, you are NOT a coward. You might well have very real worries about your job status because of this asshole. I'm sorry you have to deal with him.
To those who have asked why/how this pharmacist could not know that contraception isn't abortifacient - well, the fact is, they don't BELIEVE it. (And some of them go into pharmaceutical training in order specifically to block the Abortion Culture, too.)
The official conservative teaching on this, for at least 40 years now, has been that the Pill really is an abortifacient, that IS its mechanism, and any doctors/scientists who say otherwise are simply liars (or deluded by other liars) in the service of the godless, secular, liberal abortion industry.
No amount of evidence from secular medical institutions will convince them otherwise - this is the beauty of living inside a Persecution Complex.
Well, after all, every sperm is sacred, and every egg is, too.
Ugh!
As per Ultraneon's advice I have sent an e-mail to walmart corporate office for more information regarding the issue I posted above. I will also use this opportunity to discuss issues related by L. I will let you know their response when I get one.
Walmart E-mail follows:
I would like to what Walmarts specific policy is in regards to purchasing Plan B. My wife is disabled and sent me to get it as advised by her doctor as an emergency backup as she absolutely must NOT get pregnant. She was not given a prescription as one should not have been required. They refused to allow me to purchase. When press the reason was because of potential abuse by the purchaser against a women's will. My wife and I were very angry, especially since the insinuating was that I might abuse my wife, although I am sure that was not the pharmacy managers intent. My wife has not pursued the matter because she already has plenty on her plate, and she get it elsewhere.
This was a while back, but a recent article on feministing.com, http://www.feministing.com/archives/010355.html, has brought our attention back to this incident. Please read the linked article for full information. I added the following post to the story:
BEGIN INSERT
Due to medical conditions and associated medicines, my wife has been advised that she absolutely must not get pregnant. In addition to birth control, Plan B was suggested as an emergency backup should it become necessary.
Unfortunately my wife cannot get around much right now. Actually has not been able to do so for a while and it will be some time before she can.
She sent me to walmart (McPherson, KS) to get the Plan B but they refused to sell it to me. The reason being they felt there was a significant risk of abuse by husbands/boyfriends/rapists to force a woman to take the drug against their will. This is supposedly Walmart policy. They will not accept anything short of her coming in personally to purchase it.
My wife was exceptionally angry at this (I was too naturally), but with everything going on right now, she doesn't have the energy to fight with them.
Does anybody know if this is indeed the official walmart policy? Nothing like being told that I am suspected of abusing my wife!
END INSERT
I think it is time for an answer. I would like to speak directly by phone with an appropriate representative by phone for an explanation as to why Walmart policy should assume anyone is abusing legal medications. Theoretically I could force any number of dangerous medicines upon my wife without concern from walmart. Why are you making an issue of just this one?
My wife getting pregnant would be extremely dangerous for her and the baby would survive, but as a vegetable. The doctors will not even treat my wife if there is any possibility of pregnancy, hence the Plan B as backup to other birth control methods.
Sincerely,
Miles Webster
I know this is off topic but I needed to say this.
Miles, I would like to tell you that I appriciate you being such a good partner to your wife. I want to let you know that their are people out there who know that it isn't easy to care for loved one when they are very ill, no matter what your gender. You are not alone. From a woman's perspective, it's nice to come across honestly caring, strong men. So holla for the good ones!
I am beginning to suspect walmart is going to take it's time to respond, if they respond to me at all. I may have to go the formal route and send snail mail to the corporate leaders posted above. (Thanks for posting their info!)
Suki T: Thank you for your gracious compliment! I am very grateful. I am sure you will not be surprised that she helps and supports me just as much as I do her. We are both disabled with striking similar injuries. I won't bore you with the details but suffice it to say these last few years have been really hard. At times it has been difficult to keep our spirits up, but we keep trying as we don't intend to stay disabled if we can help it.
Miles
If it wouldn't compromise the identity of the writer of the email, what state is this pharmacy in?
State laws play a role here, especially if a demand could be shown for Plan B, and state pharmacy board policy could be cited as well in letters to Wal-Mart, which pharmacists are expected to follow as guidelines, at least. It would be helpful for Wal-Mart to receive letters that cite state law and policy in support of the store carrying Plan B, at least to the extent that there would be some demand for it in that community, which there likely would be.
It's a good idea to write Wal-Mart corporate authorities, but from what we understand of Wal-Mart, at least at the corporate level they're all but outright bouncing-yellow-smiley happy to carry Plan B in stores that can sell a significant volume of it. After all, they do carry regular birth control pills, in an inventory that likewise reflects anticipated demand. Pharmacists that claim "conscience" protection for not carrying EC affected fewer stores than pharmacies that chose not to carry Plan B because of lack of demand, as far as customer relations understood, from what we were told in a phone call in September 2006 to Wal-Mart customer relations in Bentonville, AR, when we spoke with Judy Davidson, who said she was an customer relations rep for David Glass, then CEO of Wal-Mart.
I don’t know for sure if Wal-Mart policy has changed much since fall 2006 – the email author above wrote “Wal-Mart's official policy, however, is that even if no one in the pharmacy wants to sell Plan B, we have to have it stocked on the shelf.” I don’t know though if today literally every Wal-Mart pharmacy in the country stocks Plan B except for those where the pharmacist blocks it from being stocked somehow, but I bet there are some which simply don’t carry it because – they think anyway – there wouldn’t be sufficient demand. One could argue that they have a responsibility to carry EC because of the nature of the product, but the same argument could be made of many other drugs, including some antibiotics, which might be critically needed but not always carried depending on demand. In September 2006 I know we were told that Wal-Mart intended to carry it in every store where there would likely be a significant demand, or where state law required them to do so, which at least was in Illinois and Massachusetts at that point, as I recall. They were moving swiftly at that point to respond to lawsuits and a great deal of pro-choice support for them to carry Plan B at first by prescription and then nationally OTC when that was possible in November of that year.
We were told that most of the Wal-Mart pharmacies that did not carry Plan B at that point -- and this was in September, before Plan B went OTC nationally in November of that year -- were in rural areas which not only were sparsely populated but which had disproportionally fewer young people -- and if you look at the census statistics, that's often what you find, as young people tend to leave rural communities at least once they get out of high school for college or the 'big city'. Of course that puts the young people, and minors in particular, who live there in a double bind because with less demand for services that meet their need they tend to become even harder to get, beyond the barriers of distance and politics that rural areas already pose them.
Maybe if a country kid who got a pregnancy scare had parents as supportive as the ones in the movie "Juno" they'd not find those barriers so significant, but many do -- which is also one reason why there's also a disproportionate amount of bogus crisis pregnancy centers in rural areas, which a real-life Juno would have much more likely wound up in instead of the grungy clinic the movie portrayed. Many young people do though just like the movie portrayed -- they try to find services on their own -- before they consult their parents, even if their parents would be reasonably supportive, as Juno's were. It wouldn’t have been as entertaining if Juno or a friend of hers had been shown going through a CPC and being persuaded not only to carry her pregnancy to term but also to give her child up for adoption, rather than getting unbiased options counseling or support in starting a young family, if that’s what she wanted to do, but it would have been a lot more realistic.
--southern students for choice, GCCC-panama city