Question: Do men have the right NOT to be fathers?

[socko]

^There are cases of women impregnating themselves by taking the soiled condom out of the trash, extracting its contents with a turkey baster, then using the turkey baster to inject the semen into their vaginas. I recall reading that at least once one of those mothers successfully sued the man for child support.

 

[keiths31]

No one is railroading you, or any woman, into making a desicion you are uncomfortable with. That is your right as a woman. You have the right to control your fertility as you state, but why is it the only option for a man to control his fertility is to not have sex?...and a woman can and still be in control?
What I am saying is a man does not enjoy the same right as a woman. When a man and a woman get into a bed for some sex, they both know the possible outcome may be pregnancy. But a woman has two options if a pregnancy does occur. A man has none. He is at the mercy of the woman. That is where the argument comes to play.
Women have fought long and hard for their right to choose, and though I don't agree with abortion (if you couldn't tell from my personal experience previously posted), I respect your right to choose, nor will I preach that it is wrong. But why can't a man have the same choice when both parties know of the possible outcome?

 

[Coolio]

mariposa, the problem is that men HAVE been legislated and railroaded into paying child support. I don't want control of your reproductive choices at all - I just don't want men with guns to be able to tell me I have to give you my money because you chose to have my baby against my wishes. Why do you expect a fair and equal distribution of responsibility, pushed upon me by threat of violence/imprisonment? That's an unnatural infringement on my liberty.

 

[Beatlebot]

That is your right as a woman. You have the right to control your fertility as you state, but why is it the only option for a man to control his fertility is to not have sex?...and a woman can and still be in control?

There is this wonderful invention called condoms that can help a man control his fertility. They are one of the most reliable forms of contraception around. Go down to your local chemist and ask about condoms today!

What I am saying is a man does not enjoy the same right as a woman. When a man and a woman get into a bed for some sex, they both know the possible outcome may be pregnancy. But a woman has two options if a pregnancy does occur. A man has none.

So what? That's why people should discuss these things before jumping into bed.

Women have fought long and hard for their right to choose, and though I don't agree with abortion (if you couldn't tell from my personal experience previously posted), I respect your right to choose, nor will I preach that it is wrong. But why can't a man have the same choice when both parties know of the possible outcome?

A man does have a say. It's just that the woman has the final say because it affects HER BODY. A couple might discuss other things together, like a man getting a circumcision or a vasectomy, where the woman might offer her opinion but the final say would go to the man, because that is HIS BODY.

A woman should certainly consider the man's opinion when making a decision like this, but ultimately it's her choice. Men have to do what they can to protect themselves, by using protection or making sure they choose sex partners with similiar views to themselves.

 

[IAmJacksUserName]

I guess you could make a case that it's unfair to the guy to not have legal say in getting an abortion for their kid, but there's a helluva lot of things that are unfair to the woman too. For instance, the man has the ability to jump town, and a woman doesn't. Or, the man can get away with only paying child support and seeing the kid now and again maybe. Of course, a lot of that depends on the man's concience, but in the end, men have that choice and women don't. Therefore, it's only right that women get to make this call alone.

And the thread's question is B.S. if you ask me. Do men have the right not to be fathers? Yes, they do. But I also have the right not to die in a car accident. But whenever I step into a car, I acknowledge that I'm waivering that right. By having sex, you take the risk of becoming a potential parent, and you need to be responsible enough to take what's coming, whatever that may be.

 

[doofqueen]

Maybe men should take a bit more responsibility when it comes to their OWN contraception if they don't want to be paying child support for a baby they did not want.