A question on Abortions and Gender Equality?

Question

Woman gets pregnant, she can decide to have the baby or abort the baby. If the man wants the baby, the woman has the final choice and can abort it. If the man doesn't want the baby, the woman can give birth and make him pay. Male gets a woman pregnant and have no say wether the baby is born or aborted.
If the man want's the baby, the woman can just abort it without him having a choice, this can cause emotional issues for some men. If the man doesn't want the baby, he still has to pay for it, but if the woman doesn't want it she can get rid of it.

Is there any gender equality on the choice of birth?

Answer 1

I only believe in abortion under certain circumstances (example : rape of a young girl, incurable life threatening disease, or if it is life threatening to the mother) It does seem odd that man has no major role in this decision, but I can also see why it is only the woman's choice, it is her body, her baby (even though the baby is also the man's) that factors in. However, if the woman truly cares, she will factor in the man's opinion.

Answer 2

So many of you are missing the point in this. Most of the women here (and a couple guys) are focusing in on "if he doesn't want the baby, then tough, wear a condom" or "if I don't want the baby, why don't I have a choice and have to pay?"

However, the basic principal of gender inequality is still there. Why do people who strongly advocate the right of a woman to choose to keep a child (and thus blame the man for not practicing safe sex) never speak as loudly or acknowledge the fact that the same right also allows the woman to terminate against the man's wishes?

The question here comes down to: "Are the following two situations even remotely equal?"

1) I am pregnant and keeping this child. You must help support this child even though you do not wish to.

2) I am pregnant and I do not wish to deliver this child. You do not have any choice in this, even though you want to support this child.

In both cases, there is no parity and the gender inequality greatly favors women.

The biggest reason that this exists today is that overwhelmingly situation 1 - the man does not want to take responsibility - is the case, and therefore a woman's rights must be protected.

Now, if the pro-life movement really wants to make some changes, then perhaps recognizing ALL of the rights of women and ALL the responsiblities of men (and vice versa) would be a great place to start.

Then maybe there would be parity all around. If women and men were ever to really gain equality in all areas, then there would not have to be so many protections in place. (What is there to protect against if there is equality?)

By the way, if that ever happened, this issue would not come up nearly as often as it does today.

Answer 3

The above responder (loubean) cites the "Constitutional rights to privacy"; however, there is no guarantee of a "right to privacy" anywhere in the Constitution. It's not even implied. The Constitution contains no language at all that directly or indirectly applies to childbirth/abortion.

The simple facts are these: the above issue shouldn't even be an issue for the same reason as abortion shouldn't be an issue. Just as a woman doesn't need an abortion if she doesn't have sex, the man shouldn't be having sex with someone unless he and she can and will support children.

If you're not old/mature/well-off enough to have/support a child, you shouldn't be having sex. Simple as that.

Answer 4

As a man I can certainly identify with that argument and I have used it a few times while discussing the issue of abortion. But, in the end, women are the ones who sustain pregnancies and give birth and, to be honest, I wouldn't stand the thought of forcing a woman to do that against her will. Can you imagine spending nine months with a baby you reject growing in your body?
However, I agree the issue of gender equality should be discussed more thoroughly when ity comes to parenting. And there are many other problems, like the judicial treatment given to child custody cases, that society needs to think about.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as complete gender equality,because a woman is physically inequal to a man,she is the one whom must give birth,whom must go through the physical demands of pregnancy. I am pro life and belive every human being should have the chance at life.Since it is a seperate living being.The choice of life is given to the woman,she can choose to abort or carry out the pregnancy.The argument is that the woman is the one pregnant and its her body that has to go through the proccess therefore she should get to choose whether to have the baby come out of her body or not.

So to answer your question,no there is no equality in the choice of birth,equality is just a political propaganda anyway.And no matter what the women libbers all say,its still a man dominated society.Even the medical research is all geared for a mans health.

Answer 6

Your equation started too late in the game. Man wants a baby, man finds woman with qualities of motherhood and willingness to give birth. Man doesnt want baby, man is careful of methods of contraception.

Yeah, the woman has all the deciding power after the fact, but that is just the way it is. Whether or not the man has no say at all after the pergnancy takes place all depends on the kind of woman we are dealing with. Of course there isnt gender equality when it comes right down to it, but you are only looking at it from a connection between mother-baby, father-baby standpoint. What aboout mother-father, and the dynamic there? That muddies the water a bit.

Answer 7

my answer is no. for some reason women for years have struggled with equality. it has been argued time and time again how unfair it is that men are payed more respected more in some areas. and for the most part the men have won or rather seems as though they have won. since it is the body of the women that grows the baby and the sperm is actually an invader, welcome or not, from the man it is the woman that has the right to chose. that is the view of the pro choice. men even when they talk about it are labeled as controlling and narrow minded. either way the men are in a lose lose situation as far as choice of birth.

Answer 8

ok, your question...it rambles, but I think I get the main point.
There can't be complete gender equality on this issue, because males will never give birth. The right to abort a pregnancy is based on Constitutional rights to privacy, as ridiculous as that may be. It isn't fair, that a guy could not have a child he wants, or has to pay for a child he doesn't.....but, life isn't fair. The bottom line is that people need to be responsible...if you aren't ready for children, then abstain, or use protection.....at least use common sense.

Answer 9

It is the woman's choice because it is the woman's body. Until there is technology that allows a man to carry a baby in his body for 9 months, then it will always be up to her. There is a simple way to solve this though. Men, be careful who you have sex with. Perhaps before you have sex with a woman, you should know her well enough to know her views on such things.

Answer 10

Not really. Some women just don't care what their partner thinks. Also those aren't the only two choices. There is always adoption. Which is better than abortion but not as good as keeping the child and loving it the way you should. Children are a blessing.