CDC Website Review

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention website is an excellent resource to accompany my arguments for mandatory physical education in American schools. Not only is this website up to date, it is a credible resource provided by our government, and it touches on several key points in regards to physical activity and its benefits to the health of our youth. For example, it states that "regular physical activity reduces feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being."

The CDC website lists the harmful effects of inactivity and its long term consequences such as, "physical inactivity increases one's risk of dying prematurely, dying of heart disease, and developing diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure." This website is also valuable because it gives statistics, comparisons, and even gives examples with males versus females, specifically in regards to their participation in physical activity. For example, it shows that 36.6% of male high school students are active for at least 60 minutes a day, versus only 17.7% of high school females.

Overall, this website contributes in many ways, is a credible source, and helps support my claim that physical education ought to be mandatory in schools.

A Woman's Right to Home Birth

Women have been giving birth in the sanctuary of their homes since the beginning of time, until a fad in the 1930s caused birthing in hospitals to become a standard of safety. Home birth, as it is now termed, is now considered high risk and has even become outlawed in some states such as Alabama and Georgia. The right to give birth in the manor seen most fit to an expectant mother has been taken from them and placed in the hands of the law. However, the law does not fight against the mother's choice to birth at home, but rather the ability for midwives to practice legally. In fact, Certified Professional Midwives (aka CPM's) can only practice legally in 28 of the 50 states.

With access to a professional being limited, women across the United States are being forced to birth in hospitals. With an incredibly high cesarean rate and an even more devastating infant and maternal mortality rate, it is imperative that we rethink our stance on birthing at home. Whereas it is important that we consider the accessibility of emergency care when necessary, when it comes to birth, a woman should still have the right to choose the place and how she gives new life. Restricting women the access to professional, at-home birthing care is limiting women on how they give birth, often resulting in overmedicated, traumatic, and unnatural birthing experiences. Birth is a passage, and women have the right to that choice.