France is treating women's healthcare like healthcare. Imagine that!

[redqueen]

We Heart: France!
April 5, 2013 By Liza Baskin

April 1 marked the beginning of free abortion in France (no fooling!). As mandated by the new law, the country will now reimburse all abortions 100 percent, as well as provide free contraception for girls ages 15-18.

The law also doubles the fees paid to hospitals that provide abortions, as incentive to perform the procedure at more facilities. France previously paid 80 per cent of the fees for abortions for women 18 and older, and 65 per cent of the cost of contraception for girls ages 15-18.

...

http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/04/05/we-heart-france/

[Texasgal]

1. WOW!

That's pretty amazing!

It's a damn tragedy that Women here in the US get such shitty healthcare. Not only with sexual health, but heart and cancer too. If you look at medical research stats it seems Mens health issues get the most funding. It sucks.

[JI7]

2. this should be a given for any country is is considered civilized

[ismnotwasm]

3. I was reading about that

Blew me away. France is far from perfect, but to to have what should be simple common sense to this degree, while we have states trying to pass "personhood" bills...

Wow, just wow.

[smirkymonkey]

4. K&R, Thank You!

France is far more advanced than we are when it comes to women's rights. However it is strange how their men have lagged behind where it comes to treating women as individuals.

[redqueen]

5. IMO it all goes back to the liberal feminism vs radical feminism issue...

Liberal feminism works to ensure that healthcare policies don't ignore women's unique healthcare needs... but only radical feminism can address the fact that some individuals see women as less than.

[Pterodactyl]

6. Welcome to the civilized world, France! What took you so long?

[redqueen]

7. Are you in the UK?

Somewhere in Scandinavia?

Precious few countries are this progressive.

[Pterodactyl]

9. No! I'm a proud American!

The US has gay marriage, albeit in only the coolest states. We're still way ahead of France. Also, we've had democracy for longer than they have.

[redqueen]

10. We are not "way ahead of" France.

There are many different ways that the US differs from France. Government policy in the context of issues which primarily affect women is one example of the ways they are far ahead of the US.

[Pterodactyl]

11. Oh yes we are ahead of France.

1. We've had marriage equality much longer.
2. We've had democracy about 150 years longer than they have.
3. America is multicultural.

I hope that over time they will follow our example.

[redqueen]

12. "in the context of issues which primarily affect women" they are light years ahead of us.

Not all issues, but many. e.g. maternity leave, well mother care and support, day care, etc.

And, obviously, health care. Which us why your 'welcome' comment stood out like a sore thumb to me. They will be the ones welcoming us, whenever we finally catch up to them.

[Pterodactyl]

16. Except if a woman wants to marry another woman.

In that case, they are bigots.

[redqueen]

17. That would be one exception.

I don't see many French lesbian couples beating down the doors to get here, so I'm pretty sure we still aren't any position to be "welcoming" them anywhere. Obviously YMMV.

[Pterodactyl]

18. And that is the one that matters most.

They won't even grant the most basic acceptance of human personhood.

[niyad]

14. you obviously forgot the sarcasm icon.

[Pterodactyl]

15. Yeah. "Obviously".

[CrispyQ]

8. "...free contraception for girls ages 15-18."

How many unwanted pregnancies, could this alone, eliminate?

[niyad]

13. wow--what an absolutely novel idea--treat women's healthcare as. . . healthcare. now, why

didn't someone ever think of this before?

seriously, kudos to france (and I cannot wait to hear the women-haters over here screaming in horror)

[eridani]

19. Side note on French health care system

The government pays, on average, 70% of cost for most procedures. Private insurance (highly regulated) exists to give first dollar coverage on the copays. So it really is a BFD when they decide that some things are worth 100% coverage.

[ismnotwasm]

20. That's a really good insight

Thank you.