HOW BABY BOOMERS PUSHED WOMEN’S HEALTH

Even in 2016 women’s health is a hot button topic?

1973, the year of de-criminalized marijuana and Roe v Wade.

What could go wrong?

The counter culture had been rolling for years with people moving to Haight Ashbury, joining communes, going to music festivals.

More than one family saw their little girl hop into a hippie’s car and ride away.

Sometimes forever, in the sense that they’d changed into someone else by the time they came back.

And sometimes they came back pregnant by someone they barely knew.

Nothing new there. Young boomers were an impressive package to behold.

How many unmarried pregnant young women from influential families did it take before daddy started calling for change?

How many unmarried pregnant young women faced the decision to deliver their love child, or find an alternative, also known as a backstreet abortion before Roe v Wade?

The fathers could disown, but not ignore their daughters in need.

And they couldn’t go out and rope the sperm donor into responsibilities they had no intention of fulfilling.

Groovy dudes moved with the wind; the ladies in their wake fell to the side.

And now we’re all grown up with kids, grand kids, and a foggy memory on the way to forgotten.

What if your daughter called to say she was one of six wives of a commune leader named Father Yod?

Dad: Father Yod?

Girl: Yes, the most evolved, spiritual, man in the universe.

Dad: One of six wives? Is he a Mormon?

Girl: He’s beautiful and I’m having one of his beautiful babies.

Dad: You’re pregnant?

Girl: I’m blessed with his offering.

Dad: Honey, maybe you should come home.

Girl: I am home.

Dad: I mean here with your brothers and sisters.

Girl: I am with my brothers and sisters.

Dad: Okay. These are days you’ll look back on one day and…

Girl: And remember as the happiest days of my life.

Dad: Your mother and I are worried. What does Father Yod do?

Girl: He embraces life.

Dad: He’s a kid like you. What does he know about life?

Girl: He’s older than you, dad. He knows about life.

Dad: Older than me?

Girl: Born in 1922.

Dad: This doesn’t sound good.

Girl: Father Yod said you’d say that.

Dad: I did say that.

Girl: He also said you’d try to interfere with my decision.

Dad: Honey, this doesn’t sound like you.

Girl: I’m not a little girl anymore.

Then she sends a picture of Father Yod and his band along with one showing the bigger picture at the top.

She’s joined the Source Family or another group living bunch.

How many young women stayed for the long haul? How many came home pregnant?

Finally, how many dads wanted their little sunshine to rise with the rest of their school friends and join the main stream?

Women’s health is more than reproductive rights, but the push toward Roe v Wade in 1973 started after too many women suffered at the hands of bad medicine practiced by unqualified hacks.

No mom or dad wants that.