November 20th, 2018 Note: The following essay was originally posted on the University of Idaho Women’s Center blog on November 19th, 2018; it was read over and approved by its editor. It was taken down by the center director because it apparently violates freedom of choice. I fail to see how informing others on the true history of birth control is oppressing choice. I find it ironic that an organization that supposedly advocates for women is trying to censor a minority woman.
December 4, 2018 Note: The original blog post on the UI Women’s Center site has been reposted with this now deleted statement. “On November 20th, the Women’s Center removed an article from our blog. The topic of the blog article was changed at the last minute and the normal processes for posting the article were not all followed due to the Thanksgiving break. However, removing the article because of this was an error and we are putting the article back up on the blog. There are those who will disagree with the statements in this blog. Some disagreements have already been expressed directly to the Women’s Center. There is a constant struggle for recognition of our rights as humans; rights to express sexuality, rights to gender identity, rights for equal treatment without bias, and more. That said, in this struggle, we can never lose sight of the fundamental right of personal expression, including the right to express the contrary or controversial view. Discourse that advances our society requires not just expression, but also listening and a considered response. Ignoring the contrary view derails the discourse. And so, in this light, the Women’s Center is restating the article on our blog. As with all articles on our blog, the content contains the views of the author, not necessarily those of the Women’s Center. We invite you to listen with your eyes and respond as you wish with your hearts and minds.”
July 31st, 2022 Note: It’s been more than a couple of years since I first published this article. It was not my intention for this particular piece to cause so much controversy. People questioned my motives, saying that I should have known that this content wouldn’t have been approved for a university’s feminist blog. But I was very open about my values in the hiring process and was still selected to be a writer for the UI Women’s Center Blog. I was told that I would bring diversity to the website, especially as the only non-white and only conservative writer that semester.
I also considered the piece tame compared to what my fellow interns were writing at the time: a detailed masturbation guide, an informative piece on domestic abuse, and even another critique of birth control. I thought my earlier article on pornography addiction was pushing the line, but that one was approved with no problem. So I did not publish the birth control article for attention; an accusation many, even those I considered friends, would make.
I simply thought that this was history my fellow students should know about. My goal in speaking with media outlets after the post was originally deleted was to get it reposted and to secure the internship credit for my work that semester. After the director reposted it, I refused other print and TV interviews; I did not want to drag the matter out for longer than possible. I am grateful for my family and friends who supported me emotionally and spiritually, the UI Argonaut for giving me a chance to tell my side of the story, and to then-President Chuck Staben for giving me an apology on behalf of the University of Idaho for the violation of my free speech rights at a public school.
I’ve decided to keep the original notes posted on this article, as well as add this explanation, as a reminder of the battles I had to fight to speak my voice as a woman. In 2022, more than ever, when we recount history, that is a cited account of events, we are labeled as violators of the new “sacred law” of relativism. I concede that I do state my opinion in this blog post, but a quick look into the hyperlinks and other sources readily show that the history I present is accurate. I only invite the reader to look into this history and form their own opinions and values.
I’ve updated some of the lines and links in this piece but you can still read the original post on the UI Women’s Center website.
Thank you for taking the time to read these notes. Now onto the article.
Vicky Diloné 