Spring Break
Male abortion rights?
Marianne Bossert
Issue date: 3/27/06 Section: Opinion
A reasonable frame of time would be relatively small; the man would have to make his decision soon after he discovered the pregnancy in order to make sure the woman is comfortable with having an abortion if the man refuses to pay for the child. Many women would be very uncomfortable with a last-minute decision to give a child up for adoption and many more may be uncomfortable with an abortion after the first trimester of pregnancy.
No woman can be expected to make a decision about the future of her pregnancy without significant time and knowledge of her partner's financial and parental role in the child's life. A reasonable time frame for the man to decide would be within two months of the discovery.
Second, the father must waive not only financial responsibility, but also full parental rights.
Just as a woman gives up full rights as a parent when she chooses to abort or give up her child for adoption, the man must give up all rights to the child when he opts out of his responsibilities as a parent. The woman, assuming she decides to have the child, must be left with full custody of the child and the father must never be able to bring a custody battle to court.
The mother also must have complete control over the child's access to and knowledge of his father because she has become the sole parent. This is perhaps the most crucial stipulation that must be placed on the process because no mother can claim parental rights without financial responsibility. If men truly want to establish equality, they cannot expect anything different.
Although this idea makes sense on the surface it has problems that need to be worked out before it can be put into practice. A man must be willing to make the same responsible decisions a woman must make when she decides to terminate her pregnancy or give up parental rights. Otherwise, the man is not only claiming superiority over the woman but also causing problems for an innocent child.
No woman can be expected to make a decision about the future of her pregnancy without significant time and knowledge of her partner's financial and parental role in the child's life. A reasonable time frame for the man to decide would be within two months of the discovery.
Second, the father must waive not only financial responsibility, but also full parental rights.
Just as a woman gives up full rights as a parent when she chooses to abort or give up her child for adoption, the man must give up all rights to the child when he opts out of his responsibilities as a parent. The woman, assuming she decides to have the child, must be left with full custody of the child and the father must never be able to bring a custody battle to court.
The mother also must have complete control over the child's access to and knowledge of his father because she has become the sole parent. This is perhaps the most crucial stipulation that must be placed on the process because no mother can claim parental rights without financial responsibility. If men truly want to establish equality, they cannot expect anything different.
Although this idea makes sense on the surface it has problems that need to be worked out before it can be put into practice. A man must be willing to make the same responsible decisions a woman must make when she decides to terminate her pregnancy or give up parental rights. Otherwise, the man is not only claiming superiority over the woman but also causing problems for an innocent child.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 15
J. Glover
posted 7/27/08 @ 8:47 PM CST
This is really interesting. I believe that when a child is conceived (in a normal situation), that the "choice" has already been made. I think that the male should do all that should be done to prevent conceiving a child and stop leaving the birth-control method up to the female. (Continued…)
B. Simmons
posted 7/30/08 @ 3:30 AM CST
Yes it would be wonderful if birth control were a hundred percent effective but it isnt.
And though the ability to have limited window of opportunity to opt out of fiscal and legal responsibility of a potential child is an option for women. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 8/01/08 @ 1:12 PM CST
If the Father does not want a baby. The only child support he should pay is the cost of an abortion. The father would loose all custody rights to the child and then be done with it and not be held liable for the birth of a human. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 9/05/08 @ 1:12 PM CST
Im sorry, but B. Simmons, that is a rediculous argument. By your own logic, if the woman doesnt want to get pregnant, then she should just be a lesbian. (Continued…)
cristine
posted 9/30/08 @ 4:28 PM CST
I understand why they feel it is the right thing to do, but the entire subject disgusts me.
This human life is not just some money muncher... it is your son or daughter. (Continued…)
Ashley
posted 12/08/08 @ 9:47 AM CST
Christine: It IS "disgusting how people can just dismiss the life they have created". If people don't want children then then they should just not have sex!!
Wait a minute. (Continued…)
Brian
posted 5/06/09 @ 12:53 AM CST
The same way feminism was this radical new idea that women are people; father's rights is this radical new idea that parenthood is the choice of more than one person. (Continued…)
Moriah
posted 5/16/09 @ 12:11 AM CST
Just as women have the right to start a family or end a pregnancy, men should also be given the equivalent--male abortion. The whole point of the feminist movement was to give everyone equal rights and equal responsibilities. (Continued…)
dayna20
posted 6/04/09 @ 8:15 PM CST
I, as a young lady, truly believe that if in a relationship, both partners have stated that children are not wanted and the woman dose, in fact, become pregnant then the man should be notified in a timely manner, meaning before its to late to have an abortion. (Continued…)
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