Garth Rattray ALTHOUGH THE furor over the unfortunate utterances in parliament is somewhat spent, I feel the need to add my piece before the opportunity is lost forever. Opposition parliamentarian, Ernie Smith, suggested virginity tests on schoolgirls, and government member Sharon Hay-Webster reportedly proposed compulsory sterilisation of young women who have too many children as part of a plan to combat unwanted pregnancies and poverty in Jamaica. There are scientific and ethical problems with these proposals. Virginity tests provide no absolute proof of sexual activity or the lack thereof.
If a little girl is found without a hymen, will she be denied an education? But before all else we need to remember that "sexual activity" is not confined to peno-vaginal intercourse. So-called "virgins" will retain an intact hymen although participating in oral and/or anal sex. Furthermore, females can become pregnant without any penetration. I have had patients with intact hymens who have become pregnant from "fooling around on the outside". Besides, it is unethical to forcefully examine the genitals of any patient. On those occasions that concerned parents take their young daughters in for a "virginity examination", doctors should always seek the permission of the patient (no matter how young) before proceeding.
The statement attributed to government member Sharon Hay-Webster, "The situation is getting to the stage where we may have to make it mandatory for young mothers to undergo tubal ligation after their third or fourth pregnancy," was obviously made under the influence of frustration. But which young mothers would we sterilise? Should we also sterilise the rich ones? Suppose most or all of a young mother's children died in violent incidents or in traffic accidents after she was sterilised, then what? And what about the men who impregnate these children, we should certainly prosecute them but are we going to sterilise them? And what about voluntary intra-uterine contraceptive devices?
Co-ordinator of public education and legal reform at Women's Inc, Joyce Hewett, flirted with maliciousness when she proposed vasectomies and lobotomies for the guilty men. She too missed the crucial point that sexual preoccupation, carnal abuse, statutory rape, other sex crimes and early pregnancies are all symptoms of systemic social degradation.
EROTICA
The entertainment industry is overflowing with erotica, sexually suggestive "dancing", soap-opera romances, gratuitous sex and violence. Reports of death and carnage bombard and desensitise innocent young minds daily. Aggression, dishonesty and uncultured behaviour are constantly served up on our streets, in our communities and in our homes. Children therefore become tainted and susceptible. Children of all classes indulge in early sexual intercourse. Crowded communities and poverty only make things worse. Pregnancies and poverty have a direct relationship; they also perpetuate each other. Poverty and an underage status diminish the accessibility to contraception. As a rule, the greater the poverty the less the education and the less the prospect for a career.
The bearing of children therefore becomes a matter of course. Poor people have little income and no retirement benefits coming to them. Their progeny become the source of support from their baby-fathers, their helpmates and old age pension. It is theorised that hard times cause the poor to subconsciously perceive themselves as an endangered group threatened with extinction. They therefore procreate almost instinctively in an effort to ensure their continuance. We are all elated that Prime Minister Patterson invited Dr. the Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverly to visit Jamaica and celebrate oure 41st year of Independence with us. One of Miss Lou's greatest achievements was to educate children in their uniquely Jamaican cultural heritage. She also believes that children should be children.
When last did you see children playing hopscotch, ring games or telling stories? Now children play at being adults and in so doing they bypass the one essential ingredient for their wholesome development, childhood. Since we cannot sequester all our children, our society must review the practice of using sex to promote goods, movies and other productions. Sex is natural but society's exploitation of it has precipitated a deluge of unhealthy ideation and practices. What are we to expect from our exposed children? Remember that children live what they learn. They deserve much better from us.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
