Another day, another instance of mansplaining, and Twitter is on the front lines once again. This time, it was MLB pitcher and father of six, Jake Thompson, who decided to insert himself into Jessica Green’s discussion about birth control. Thankfully, Twitter wasn’t having any of it and swiftly shut down his outdated opinions. Just a friendly reminder for Thompson and other mansplainers: we didn’t ask for your take on our reproductive rights, so save it!
Earlier this month, Green expressed her dismay over the Senate’s decision to roll back the Affordable Care Act. She highlighted that this move could strip health insurance coverage for birth control, forcing countless women to pay for it out of pocket. “#BirthControl is no longer covered by health insurance,” the Oscar-nominated actress tweeted. “Congrats, America, you’re doing your part to keep women out of the workforce.”
In an unfortunate attempt to contribute to the conversation, Thompson tweeted back, “It’s called abstinence, a word that has been forgotten amongst this generation. It’s the best contraceptive… #justsaying.” His comment was not only riddled with a spelling error but also showcased a profound misunderstanding of modern contraceptive methods. Sorry, buddy, but birth control has been around since Ancient Egypt, and the pill has been an option for American women since 1960.
While abstinence is technically a form of contraception, it’s also the least effective. According to the Guttmacher Institute, two-thirds of U.S. women at risk for unintended pregnancy who use contraception consistently account for just 5% of all unintended pregnancies. In contrast, 14% of women who don’t use contraception account for a staggering 54% of unintended pregnancies. So, yeah, focusing solely on abstinence has its drawbacks.
A number of fierce women on Twitter were quick to remind Thompson that birth control isn’t just about preventing pregnancy; it serves multiple health purposes that are nobody’s business but the women using it. Naturally, users also took the opportunity to comment on Thompson’s personal life and baseball skills.
Meanwhile, Green, our new hero, chose to rise above the noise. She continued tweeting in support of women’s health issues and announced her participation in the upcoming Women’s March on Washington. “I am marching to protect the disenfranchised,” she wrote. “I stand with you for reproductive choice, wage equality, and freedom from sexual violence.”
In summary, Thompson’s unsolicited advice didn’t go over well, and Twitter users made sure he knew it. Meanwhile, Green remains a vocal advocate for women’s rights and health care, showing that she won’t back down any time soon.