I guess I would say that just because a vaccine or medical procedure CAN be used exploitatively doesn’t mean that it isn’t also beneficial and useful. There was a big debate here this summer about Caesarian Sections–and opinion split along the lines of feminists (like me!) who support invasive allopathic procedures because in the end they save women’s and children’s lives, and feminists who are reasonably skeptical of surgical procedures like the C-section because they make things easier for the physicians rather than safer and easier for women and children. There is nothing inherently bad about any medical intervention: everything is context. Knowledge and consent are the keys to any legitimate practice of medicine. I believe most physicians today get this–but the allopathic medicial profession has not always put this at the center of their practice, as your apt historical connections show.

And, ana: thanks for stopping by to comment. I am in awe of both nurses and midwives! Routine screening is clearly of central importance to women’s reproductive and sexual health. No vaccine will replace that–but it appears that Gardasil will prevent some of the deadlier consequences of sexual activity with men for some girls and women.

(The Historiann C-section analysis and debate is here.)

http://profbw.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/the-state-can-violate-womens-bodies-if-they-want-to/

As I say in my conclusion of the piece the issue is three-fold: 1. uneven mandated use that targets a specific population popularly presumed to be brown,(regardless of actual race it is a mandated on a marginalized population based on their membership in that marginalized group) 2. the testing, marketing, and history of the vaccine 3. those things placed within a historical narrative of medical HSB and marginalized communities (yes, particularly with regards to issues of sex and gender related health) My post is more about that narrative than the others but their are links throughout to research, pros and cons, and critical questions about the vaccine including the CDC.

I realize that the vaccine isn’t perfect–it doesn’t bill itself as a 100% prevention against cervical cancer. I also realize that no vaccine is completely risk-free. I think the vast, vast majority of resistance to this vaccine is because it acknowledges that girls someday may have sex.

I remain an advocate for vaccinating all children for everything. There are too many holes in our public health net now, because in part of irrational middle-class fears about vaccination (versus the real fears of disease!), and also because of inadequate health care for many families, who can’t vaccinate their children because of the cost. It’s a shame and a scandal in my opinion that there are measles outbreaks now–and who knows what else might be brewing somewhere because people can’t afford or refuse to vaccinate.

Evidence-based allopathic medicine is what I want for everyone.

I know people who did the initial research that isolated HPV as a major cause and after doing the research on the drug I did I wrote a piece deeply concerned about its use.

It isn’t just about squeamish parents its about testing, marketing, the history of the company that patented one of the two shots available, the death of young girls, and now the forced administration to any girls wanting to enter this country legally or become legalized when citizens do not have to take it. There is a lot more going on here than middle class mothers over active fears or purantical mothers nightmares.