The right to choose

[Cowgirl]

Ok...here's an interesting topic. The thread in chit chat about child support got me thinking about this. I'm not really sure how I feel about it either way. I'm curious what you all think.

If a woman gets pregnant, she has the right to choose whether or not to keep the baby, have the baby but give it up for adoption, or terminate the pregnancy. She usually decides what to do based on whether or not she is ready for a baby, or able to care for a baby. I know there are other factors, but those are major ones. My question is this...if the man that got her preggo does not want the baby, he has no choice but to support it if she decides to have it (and he should). BUT, why should the mother be able to choose, if the father has no say? If a mother knows she can't financially provide for child, she could terminate the pregnancy or give the child up for adoption. What if the father knew there was no way he could provide financially for the child? What if the mother absolutely did not want the baby, but the father did? Should there be a way to sign over parental rights if the father agreed to take on 100% responsibility? What about the father signing over rights if he was 100% against having the child in the first place? Then the mother would be in charge for the baby 100% because the father did not want anything to do with the child. Do you think the father should have any right to have say in either abortion or adoption?

Really not sure how I feel about this. I think both parties are equally responsible for the life they created, but why should the mother get a say if the father doesn't? Just because she carries the baby for 9 months? Just playing devil's advocate here.....

I would love to hear some opinions...

 

[Sharon]

What about the father signing over rights if he was 100% against having the child in the first place? Then the mother would be in charge for the baby 100% because the father did not want anything to do with the child. Do you think the father should have any right to have say in either abortion or adoption?

Great idea. Let's take welfare money out of the situation too. Women would be out of the business of trapping men into marriage or using pregnancy to hang on to their boyfriends. Maybe they'd learn to use a bit more discretion as to who fathers their children.

What if the mother absolutely did not want the baby, but the father did? Should there be a way to sign over parental rights if the father agreed to take on 100% responsibility?

There's another great idea. Punish the woman by making her have the baby. She could abuse her body with neglect/chemicals/alcohol for nine months and leave him with a handicapped child, but hey! now it's his problem.

In case you missed the above, neither one of those scenarios would work and society would be opening another big can of worms. I don't think women should have all the leverage in these types of situations but unfortunately they do. The best thing that could possibly happen is that people would be responsible for themselves and their actions. And that's in the adult world.

We've come a long way since then. Now it's the norm for unmarried teens to have baby showers celebrating the birth of their firstborn child and no one bats an eye. We need to emphasize abstinence and education in school instead of self-esteem and feel good programs.

 

[Bustem' Down]

I like the idea of a man having a choice, but I really see no practical way of it being implemented. Not that I'm a pro JPC, just if you ain't gonna pay, then you shouldn't have parental rights. One of those things that kind of looks good on paper but the reality of it doesn't.

 

[forever jewel]

In any case, I think the child should not be aborted. It's a shame; many young couples assume they are adult enough to have sex, but do not take to time to do so responsibly. If one or both parents are unable to support the child, put it up for adoption. Its a life or death decision, for that baby.

So, to come back to cowgirl's question: if the father wants the child, even against the mother's wishes, the mother should carry the baby to term and then allowed to sign full-custody over to the father.

JMHO

 

[Bustem' Down]

In any case, I think the child should not be aborted. It's a shame; many young couples assume they are adult enough to have sex, but do not take to time to do so responsibly. If one or both parents are unable to support the child, put it up for adoption. Its a life or death decision, for that baby.

So, to come back to cowgirl's question: if the father wants the child, even against the mother's wishes, the mother should carry the baby to term and then allowed to sign full-custody over to the father.

JMHO

That's a topic for a diffent thread.

 

[forever jewel]

That's a topic for a diffent thread.

Keepin' me in line, are ya?

 

[Bustem' Down]

Keepin' me in line, are ya?

Yeah, don't step out.

 

[julz20684]

Can we all say CONDOMS

 

[smoothmarine187]

If the father doesn't want the baby.....well........the dumbass should have thought about that before he got her pregnant. If the father wants the baby and the mom doesnt, then he's pretty much screwed, Its the womans body, and she will be the one that has to carry that baby for 9 months.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

If the father doesn't want the baby.....well........the dumbass should have thought about that before he got her pregnant. If the father wants the baby and the mom doesnt, then he's pretty much screwed, Its the womans body, and she will be the one that has to carry that baby for 9 months.

More of your moronic wisdom. Of course we realize it's all HIS fault and she had NOTHING to do with it.

You're an embarassment.

 

[Cowgirl]

Great idea. Let's take welfare money out of the situation too. Women would be out of the business of trapping men into marriage or using pregnancy to hang on to their boyfriends. Maybe they'd learn to use a bit more discretion as to who fathers their children.



There's another great idea. Punish the woman by making her have the baby. She could abuse her body with neglect/chemicals/alcohol for nine months and leave him with a handicapped child, but hey! now it's his problem.

In case you missed the above, neither one of those scenarios would work and society would be opening another big can of worms. I don't think women should have all the leverage in these types of situations but unfortunately they do. The best thing that could possibly happen is that people would be responsible for themselves and their actions. And that's in the adult world.

We've come a long way since then. Now it's the norm for unmarried teens to have baby showers celebrating the birth of their firstborn child and no one bats an eye. We need to emphasize abstinence and education in school instead of self-esteem and feel good programs.

Well, like I said, I was just bringing up different ideas for the hell of it...

 

[CMC122]

More of your moronic wisdom. Of course we realize it's all HIS fault and she had NOTHING to do with it.

You're an embarassment.

 

[smoothmarine187]

More of your moronic wisdom. Of course we realize it's all HIS fault and she had NOTHING to do with it.

You're an embarassment.

ShutUp flyboy.....why don't you go watch the battle from up top like your used to and let the real men battle on the ground. You should have just joined the airforce.

 

[pingrr]

If the father doesn't want the baby.....well........the dumbass should have thought about that before he got her pregnant. If the father wants the baby and the mom doesnt, then he's pretty much screwed, Its the womans body, and she will be the one that has to carry that baby for 9 months.

The father does have a choice. If he doesn't want the kid he can always push the mom out of bed belly first when she is sleeping.

 

[Cowgirl]

The father does have a choice. If he doesn't want the kid he can always push the mom out of bed belly first when she is sleeping.

 

[aps45819]

Can we all say CONDOMS

Vasectomy

 

[Fruitcake Lady]

ShutUp flyboy.....why don't you go watch the battle from up top like your used to and let the real men battle on the ground. You should have just joined the airforce.

Your childish need to defend your ego is spectacular Keep it up

 

[aosmiles]

Why don't we just have an ideal society where pregnancy is sacred, where an unborn baby is not merely a fetus, where no child is a mistake, where no matter the circumstance the baby will be loved, and no one even thinks about "options" other than what to name the baby? There will never be an easy answer as long as we continue to devalue life. But because too many people don't see life as beginning before birth or "the period of viability" somewhere around 26-28 weeks gestation, babies will continue to be a "choice" instead of a human being.

Am I on a soap box? Oh, yes. Ladies if you don't want children, get on birth control. Guys, use a condom and insist that your partner use birth control. OH, wait, better yet...don't have sex unless you are married and even then, discuss having children before you get married. YIKES! Someone just brought up abstinence.

And saying to push a pregnant woman out of bed on her belly is just stupid and moronic.

 

[pingrr]

Actually pushing a pregnant woman out of the bed is quite brilliant. If she is sound asleep, she will just think she rolled out of bed and won't be able to prove that you performed an abortion for her.