In recent weeks, with the looming possibility (now reality) of Roe v. Wade being overturned, I have read countless comments from women saying that men should do more to support women in their fight for reproductive choice. But I've not seen any of them supporting men's right to reproductive choice. Not one.
The argument women use is one of "bodily autonomy", but studies show the vast majority (96%) of abortions are for reasons like not being emotionally ready to become a parent, not wanting a child to interfere with education or career plans, not being in a stable relationship or not having the financial means to support a child. In other words, all the same reasons men might not be ready to become a parent.
https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2019/05/who-are-the-1-in-4-american-women-who-choose-abortion/
So the bodily autonomy argument is disingenuous at best, but they have to use it because the true reasons women choose abortion are the same ones men have to not want to become a parent, but don't have the right to exercise like women had before Roe v. Wade was overturned. It's about personal autonomy, not bodily autonomy, and both women and men should have equal rights to personal autonomy.
I'm talking about men having the right to a "paper abortion", which means signing away all their parental rights and responsibilities early enough in the pregnancy that the mother could still choose to have an abortion. That would require that women must notify the father she is pregnant, but today men don't have the right to know they have a child, born or unborn. A woman can have a man's child and never tell him, or she can choose to tell him years later and demand child support having already robbed the father of many years with his son or daughter.
So guys... if women were more supportive of YOUR right to "personal autonomy" and to know you have a child in the world, would you be more likely to advocate for women's right to personal autonomy (i. e., abortion)?
The argument women use is one of "bodily autonomy", but studies show the vast majority (96%) of abortions are for reasons like not being emotionally ready to become a parent, not wanting a child to interfere with education or career plans, not being in a stable relationship or not having the financial means to support a child. In other words, all the same reasons men might not be ready to become a parent.
https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2019/05/who-are-the-1-in-4-american-women-who-choose-abortion/
So the bodily autonomy argument is disingenuous at best, but they have to use it because the true reasons women choose abortion are the same ones men have to not want to become a parent, but don't have the right to exercise like women had before Roe v. Wade was overturned. It's about personal autonomy, not bodily autonomy, and both women and men should have equal rights to personal autonomy.
I'm talking about men having the right to a "paper abortion", which means signing away all their parental rights and responsibilities early enough in the pregnancy that the mother could still choose to have an abortion. That would require that women must notify the father she is pregnant, but today men don't have the right to know they have a child, born or unborn. A woman can have a man's child and never tell him, or she can choose to tell him years later and demand child support having already robbed the father of many years with his son or daughter.
So guys... if women were more supportive of YOUR right to "personal autonomy" and to know you have a child in the world, would you be more likely to advocate for women's right to personal autonomy (i. e., abortion)?
Superb Opinion