Episode Report Card Sars: F | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Family Way
By Sars | Season 4 | Episode 5 | Aired on 10.31.2000
Joey at The Only Clinic In Town. A clinic worker tells her to have a seat and asks if Joey scheduled a pelvic exam with the doctor; she says she has to ask Joey a few questions, and she apologizes ahead of time if they "are a little bit unsettling." Joey nods nervously. "Are you currently sexually active?" Joey asks for clarification; the clinic worker means intercourse. Joey flaps her hands and stammers about not knowing...she means...er...no, she's not, but she's "going to be" having intercourse, that's why she's there. "Are you aware that there's a chlamydia epidemic, and that syphilis cases are on the rise?" Clinic Worker asks. Joey stares at her: "Syphilis?" Clinic Worker asks if Joey knows that HIV, HPV, and herpes still have no known cure. Joey nods; Clinic Worker checks a few things off of a list. Clinic Worker PSAs that the Pill protects against pregnancy, but not against STDs; Joey nods some more while staring at the various anatomical models in the room. CW asks if Joey has had sexual relations, and if so, if she's had unprotected sex, and Joey laughs all embarrassed that she's "a virgin, one hundred percent." CW then asks if Joey's in "a monogamous relationship" and quizzes her all sternly when Joey jokes, "As far as I know," and here's where I start to have a problem with CW, because women don't go to clinics so that the staff can fire the latest statistics from the CDC at them and demand to know whether they have monogamous relationships; we go so that we can get information and reproductive resources. It's totally inappropriate -- and irrelevant, and judgmental, and completely at cross-purposes with the point she's trying to make -- for CW even to ask whether Joey has a regular partner, much less whether Joey thinks said partner stays faithful to her, and if real-life clinic workers did this, they'd get fired, because they'd scare women away. Joey tries to set CW's mind at ease on the point of Pacey's fidelity -- which, I think it bears repeating, she should not have to do -- and CW PSAs some more that it's important to practice safe sex. CW then asks if Joey's partner is willing to wear condoms. Joey is thrown momentarily off-guard by the question, but recovers and says firmly, "Yes." "Miss Potter, these aren't even the hard questions," CW sniffs. What if Joey gets pregnant or contracts an STD? "These are the potential consequences of sex." God, back it up, CW! Joey doesn't need a course in scare tactics; she needs some medical advice on how to have sex responsibly. CW sees the look of terror on Joey's face and relents, talking about how wonderful and fulfilling sex can be and how "there's nothing to be ashamed or afraid of," and how she just wants Joey to approach it with "a certain level of maturity and responsibility, that's all." Joey nods. CW hands her a packet containing condoms, spermicide, and leaflets with information on other birth-control options. Joey gets up to leave, and CW says, "And, Joey?" Joey turns back. "Smile," CW smirks. Joey smiles reluctantly. "Smile"? After you just hectored her for ten minutes? Get bent, CW.
Sidebar time. It's really important for young women to visit a GYN, and to get all the information on birth control and STD prevention. BUT. It's possible to get what you need in a supportive, uncritical atmosphere. A practitioner at a reproductive health clinic should give you all the facts, not hurl them at you while sneering at your naïveté. So, ladies, if you visit a doctor or a clinic and the person you speak with puts a bunch of unprofessional disapproving bullshit on you, ask to speak with someone else. CW went way off-sides there, and Joey should have beaten it back to the front desk to file a complaint about her attitude.