CDC Infographic About Alcohol And Pregnancy Insults Women


The Center for Disease Control is taking on the topic of drinking before possible pregnancies in the most condescending way possible. Instead of forming a helpful and informative infographic about drinking while trying to get pregnant, the CDC produced an infographic that really is quite insulting to women who consume alcohol. 

CDC Infographic

First of all, women are not baby factories, as this CDC infographic claims. Women have purpose and worth whether or not we are moms or pregnant. Informing women who are actually pregnant or trying to get pregnant that alcohol may harm their baby is a good idea. Education on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is neccesary. However, the CDC crosses a line with how they treat any and all women who drink.

Injury/ Violence

The addition of “Injury/ Violence” to the CDC infographic is also upsetting. Violence against women is systematic in our culture. One in three women have been a victim of domestic or sexual violence and the perpetrator is usually their partner or someone they are close to. Saying that drinking can lead to violence and injury is not so different from telling rape survivors that they were asking for it for wearing a slutty outfit. It is not acceptable to tell someone to not drink so they do not get attacked. The attacker should be learning what not to do – not women who drink alcohol.

Disproportionately, it is men who perpetrate the violence. Well, where is the condescending CDC infographic for men and alcohol use? Why isn’t the CDC blaming alcohol for an increase in injury/ violence, STIs, or an accidental pregnancy for men?

Women can become violent as well. There is no denying that. The addition of “Injury” makes me think that this infographic is more about violence against women rather than violence by women. 

STI and Unintended Pregnancy

It takes two people to pass an STI or have an unintended pregnancy, but this condescending infographic does not touch on that. Instead it condescendingly goes after women who drink alcohol. Apparently, having safe sex, protecting against unintended pregnancies, and avoiding becoming a victim are only women’s jobs. Women should be able to drink and have a good time the same way men do. Women should not have to stay sober to avoid violence. 

A Better Source

Thankfully the CDC brochure on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is a little better and a lot less condescending. CDC, women are not baby factories! Stop being condescending and focus your efforts on women’s health instead of making terrible infographics.

 

Featured Image from the Center for Disease Control

Update: The CDC has withdrawn the insulting infographic and has only these infographics now. I’m glad, but why and how did this get published in the first place?

 

Emily Coday is a writer, educator, advocate, and tutor from Denver, CO. She is a sex-positive feminist and Bible belt escapee/atheist as well as an advocate and educator for POTS, polyamory, and LGBTQIA+ issues. Visit https://www.facebook.com/EmilyCodayWriting/ to read more of her writing or follow her on Twitter @Emily.Coday.