A Question About Abortion?

Question

A married couple accidentally gets pregnant. The man wants to have the child aborted, but the woman wants to keep the baby. Who gets to decide and why?

I've heard a lot of liberals talking about how it's "the woman's right to choose", but since women are going out and getting careers and we're all about everything being equal now, I don't think it should be the woman's sole decision. Yes, the woman has to carry the baby and she will most likely be the one staying home with the baby, BUT the man is also making an investment into caring for the baby by working a job. This is a very difficult question and I'd like to hear opinions.

Answer 1

You're right, it is a difficult question. Generally, I don't think it's right that men are not given any input but forced to support a child they may not want. When I became unexpectedly pregnant with my first child, I knew I wanted to keep him, so I gave my ex boyfriend the option to opt out: he could choose to be a dad, or he could give up his rights and I'd never ask him for a thing. (he chose to be a dad) I am now married, we have a second planned baby, and I wonder what we would do in this situation. I could say he can have his input, but I've had two children grow inside of me, I know what it feels like, and I could never have an abortion. I know what I'd be ending. So he could state his case all day long and in the end it wouldn't change anything. I guess I would just have to hope that he loved me enough not to try to force me into doing something that I am sure is wrong for me. (I'm not completely against abortion, ok? I just know that it's not right for me.)

Answer 2

If they are husband and wife they should make the decision together. As a woman and a mother, I would never choose to have an abortion unless continuing the pregnancy would likely kill me and/or the child. I can never imagine my husband would not feel the same way. (Side note, this is something people should discuss BEFORE marriage so problems like this do not occur!)

I can understand that men have financial worries that can be a big burden to their mind, expecially if their wife is a stay-at-home-Mom. Finances can be worked out. The feeling of losing a child is something that a woman may NEVER get over. The resentment could also grow against her husband and that is never a good situation. What would happen if, down the road, they decide to try to have a family and then can not concieve? I would be devestated if I lost my one-and-only chance at motherhood.

Also, I believe in the will of God, if something happens there is a reason for it. Children are a gift not to be throw away lightly.

Answer 3

I think that the two should discuss it. In the end, it is the woman's decision since she will be carrying the baby. And abortion isn't the only option if the only thing they want to avoid is raising a child, they could choose to give up the child for adoption to a family who can't have one of their own. I think that if they are married and they get pregnant, that kind of goes along with the territory of marriage, but that's my opinion. If the woman wants the child, and the husband doesn't then she could even file for divorce and raise the child on her own, though the father would have to pay child support, unless he signs over parental rights to the child. Then he has no legal obligation to the child.
This is a good question and I am sure there will be many very different opinions.

Answer 4

It's not about "liberals" but about a woman's right to her own body. If she is pregnant, the pregnancy happens in her body and only in her body. Any decision a male wishes to make needs to happen before his penis gets near her vagina. After that, the final decision is hers and whomever she chooses to involve.

Thinking of a baby as an "investment" makes me think you are an extremely poor candidate for fatherhood at you current level of maturity and perception. There of course is no baby unless it is born, and then it has rights and parents have responsibilities.

The biological reality is that only a woman becomes pregnant, and at that point what happens should be her final call. Pregnancy carries risks and physical changes that a father does not face and which many men seem unwilling to recognize.

Once there is a child, both parents have equal responsibilities to the child. Any man who is unable to grasp that the decisions after a pregnancy occurs are the woman's or who cannot accept this has no business being sexually active.

Answer 5

This isn't a difficult question.
It's a woman's body and it's her choice. Equality doesn't mean a man gets a say on what a woman's does with her body. Equality means a woman having the final say. If it's not a mutual thing then it's something that needs to be discussed but the husband DOES NOT have the final say in HER choice.

Regardless if they are in a relationship, if she doesn't want to have kids and he wants them, she will raise a child that she didn't want based on her husband's decision. He doesn't have a say on what she should do with her body. It's her CHOICE because it is going on in HER body. The final decision is HERS alone.

It's the same as a husband working and him wishing for his wife to have kids even though she doesn't want anymore. They already have two children who are a year apart and are very high maintenance. They don't have time to do anything together as couple.
You actually think this is about a man's decision. LOL that's laughable, it really is.
Next you'll have anti-choicers coming on here saying it's their decision as to what a woman should do cause they say they'll take care of it. Oh wait, they already do.

It's ALWAYS a woman's choice.
Men don't control a woman's body. Nor does society control a woman's body.
I'd say good try but you fall flat....on your face.

Answer 6

I personally think that its her body so she ultimately makes the choice. I do think the man should have a right to his opinion in the matter of the pregnancy however I do feel that the woman should do what she feels is best for her. Although if I knew that my man didn't want the baby I wouldn't have it because it is hard enough raising a baby with two parents let alone being a single parent. That would be a real possibility if the man doesn't want the kid.

Answer 7

Until men start getting pregnant, it's the women that ultimately decide - his only decision now is to choose to stay with her and the baby or to abort the relationship & pay child support - it's sad, but true

Answer 8

Ultimately it's the womans right to choose.
Ideally they can work it out as a couple.
But you cannot force someone to have an abortion anymore than you can force a man to go into the dr.s office, lay on the table, and be castrated.

Childbearing is one area where we will never be equal. The very fact that a woman can carry a baby and a man cannot makes us unequal.

Answer 9

i dont think this question is difficult at all, no woman in her right mind would let anyone besides her self decide what happens to her body. Financial support has no bearing what so ever on the decision, there are certain things you cannot put a price on. It is really beyond a man to feel the connection of mother and child.

Answer 10

i don't think abortion should be an option for sex-maniacs. it's a poor excuse for being irresponsible. now, a woman who was raped is a totally different story and should be allowed.

however, to answer your quesiton, ideally it would be best if both parties decided and not just one. then again you have to consider that a man basically can walk away with nothing while the woman must bear (literally and figuratively) the child. you're right, it's a toughy.

see, that's why people should have morals and stop being idioticaly selfish! have SOME RESPONSIBILITY PEOPLE!!! irrresponsible sex is a very very poor excuse.