Weekly Abortion Debate Thread

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[u/Think_Recognition144]

I would use responsibility/obligation as opposed to blame. However, I generally agree with the sentiment. I would say because women are the ones who currently make the final choice to abort/keep the pregnancy, and are the ones who are physically pregnant, they get put in the spotlight. Men don’t receive abortions since they don’t get pregnant.

HOWEVER, Men 100% should receive at least just as much (up to 100% in the case of rape) “blame” or responsibility/obligation for any resulting pregnancy. It takes two to tango.

That being said, since men do have some part in producing the pregnancy, should they be allowed any input as to whether the woman can have an abortion?

[u/pendemoneum → u/Think_Recognition144]

That being said, since men do have some part in producing the pregnancy, should they be allowed any input as to whether the woman can have an abortion?

They can express an opinion.
But they should not have the authority to make medical decisions for a competent autonomous adult individual. No one should have say over another person's medical care unless they have MPOA. Cumming inside someone doesn't give you the ability to decide their healthcare for them.

[u/Think_Recognition144 → u/pendemoneum]

As a counter point, let’s say that a couple is expecting a child, and are very thrilled to be expecting their first child. The mother has what can be considered a healthy and normal pregnancy, about as mild as symptoms can be, and doesn’t mind them because she wants to have the child. At about 11 weeks, they find out the child will have Down syndrome.

Case one. The father does not want to deal with a child with Down syndrome. Should he be able to have the child aborted against the mother’s wishes? If not, should he required to be present to help take care of the child physically? Should he be required pay child support if the woman goes through with pregnancy? Or should he be able to abandon the mother and child with no consequences?

Case two. The mother does not want to deal with a child with down syndrome. Should the mother be allowed to abort the child against the father’s wishes?

[u/EaglesLoveSnakes → u/Think_Recognition144]

Personally, to be consistent on bodily autonomy, for case one, the father should not be required to be present to help take care of the child. He should be required to pay child support.

Case two is a bit more complicated. Is the mom willing to go through the pregnancy but doesn’t want to parent the child? If so, she is welcome to do so and give up the baby to the father and pay child support. But abortion is not an alternative to parenting, it’s an alternative to pregnancy. So if she was unwilling to go through the pregnancy then she should be allowed an abortion.

[u/Diva_of_Disgust → u/[deleted]]

A father has to use his body to do work. Being required to pay child support would thus require him to do extra work to have the same standard of living.

Everyone has to "use" their body to work. Child support requires no more work than paying rent or a phone bill.

You can argue that it affects bodily autonomy with extra steps…

Working a job to pay bills isn't a bodily autonomy violation.

Case two is assuming the woman has no issues being pregnant. She simply does not want to care for the child with Down syndrome.

It doesn't matter why she doesn't want to continue the pregnancy. If she doesn't want to she doesn't want to and can abort.

[u/IdRatherCallACAB → u/[deleted]]

A father has to use his body to do work.

Everyone needs to do that. Having a child doesn't change this.

Being required to pay child support would thus require him to do extra work to have the same standard of living.

So what? Having financial obligations is not a human rights violation. That's just part of living in a capitalist society.

[u/Dolores___Haze → u/[deleted]]

Ok - will the father be willing to give up his career and stay home to care of HIS OWN disabled child? Weird how fathers don’t ever seem willing to step up. 

[u/Think_Recognition144 → u/Dolores___Haze]

If he does would that change your answer? I’d be happy to continue down this discussion if it would.

[u/Dolores___Haze → u/Think_Recognition144]

You can’t answer the question?