"The Pill" Continued

While an argument posing male chauvinism as the factor causing Japan to have a double standard for both men and women regarding these sexually related drugs, the birth control pill is a really good example of a situation where Japan has not allowed cultural diffusion to deliver an American product. And perhaps this has everything to do with the relationship between the U.S. and Japan's perception of the role women play, sexually, back in America. Japan's arguments really have little to do with keeping women chaste, disease, or unwanted pregnancy free. "Critics argue that the ban on oral contraceptive creates its own risks because 70% of couples rely on condoms, which are less effective for pregnancy- Japan has a high rate of abortions (which have their own health risks): 338 000 in 1996" (Watt).

 

In fact, one statistic shows that one in five pregnancies end in abortion in Japan (Anonymous).

(Ironically, the dropping birthrate of Japan's population is cited at times as being the reason for the approval of Viagra. "The drug that lets you get pregnant is approved, but the one that would prevent pregnancy is not," lawmaker Miazuho Fukushima has been quoted as saying. "The Japanese government is doing everything possible to increase the birthrate." (Watts)).

An article in The Lancelet, a British publication, also has this to say about the situation: "The secretive and male-dominated Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council (CPAC) has done nothing to allay such fears. The 24-member council comprises only three women and its deliberations are kept from the public. Senior Health Ministry official Toshiki Hirai says the Council has delayed approval because of opposition from politicians, but no lawmaker has been brave enough to take a public stand against the pill" (Watts).

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