This is likely not to be a very popular subject with the ladies.
There is a very simplistic way to reduce the occurrence of this issue.
I know the usual chant of feminists that say: “my body, my choice”.
But the actual effect of putting all the decision-making power in the hands of a woman, is that ANY woman has the potential to ruin multiple lives with her unaccountable behavior.
The woman is the only one who can know if there is the potential for a pregnancy. SHE decides whether or not to engage in sexual intercourse.
She has the final say on whether or not contraception is used.
Even after conception has occurred, she is the final say on whether that child lives or dies…
Also, whether or not her partner becomes a father.
The way the system is designed at the moment, the female has all the rights and none of the responsibility. The male has all the responsibility and none of the rights.
So, back to my glorious solution to this problem.
Remove ALL the responsibility from men. Make it so that IF a woman desires a man to accept certain responsibilities, AND he agrees. He then, has a proportional say in the matter.
And no, it does not take two to tango in this regard. Intercourse is an agreement between two parties. The female has all the knowledge and can make an informed decision on whether or not the risks are acceptable. The male is not in any position to know. and thus, cannot give informed consent.
Additionally, if and when a man accepts responsibility for the child, a DNA test MUST occur to validate the child is his. (So he is fully aware if he is taking responsibility for himself or another.)
Put the onus back on the women… and perhaps and see how fast the unmarried birth rate and abortion rates dwindle.
One reply on “Political beliefs (Single Motherhood & unwanted pregnancy)”
Not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I have some issues to raise:
Yes, the man definitely cannot know for certain. But it could certainly be the case that the woman doesn’t know either, if you’re referring to menstrual cycles. Based on what I know, I think the only way a woman can be sure whether or not she might get pregnant is if she’s on the pill. Even then she can’t be absolutely certain.
Your solution of recognizing the man’s right to decide whether or not he will take responsibility solves the problem, it’s just that this particular statement isn’t quite correct.
Excepting rape, of course.
The man could refuse sex if she’s not willing for him to use a condom.
Here is where I disagree with the way you phrased your solution, “Remove ALL the responsibility from men.” Rather, I would say, “Allow men to assert their rights.” What if a man wants the child but the woman doesn’t? Does she get to unilaterally take that away from him? I don’t think that should be allowed.
However, the man can understand that he’s taking a risk that the woman might get pregnant, just as he’s taking a risk that he might catch an STD. He can insist on a condom or simply not take part. The woman doesn’t have all the power here.
I would require the test to come before he makes that choice. Informed consent and all that.
You’re likely correct about the unmarried birth rate but I’m not seeing how this would lower the abortion rate. Since the man would be able to refuse the father position, so to speak, it seems to me that women who get pregnant and don’t want to be a single mother would resort to abortion just as they do now.
So, in general, I’m suggesting that men have their rights respected (for a change) rather than “the onus [be put] back on the women.” If men can exercise those rights, the solution falls out quite naturally.