What if a situation arises where the father and mother are at odds over the issue of abortion. She wants to vaccuum the kid out, and he, for whichever reason he chooses, would rather be the child's only caretaker than let the fetus be aborted. ARE the mothers really in the sole position of making that decision? If they are now according to the law, SHOULD they be?
The fetus is inarguably 50% the fathers "property." (not the right word, but it fits for the discussion) 50% of it's genetic material comes from the father, and the fetus cannot exist without the presence of a sperm. It is understood that the mother is the one who carries the child to term, and thus is burdened by the experience of the pregnancy... but does that alter what percentage of the child owes it's existence to the father?
Someone once tried to answer the question of abortion rights for me, and when I proceeded to debate her, she said simply "Your opinion doesn't f**king matter, because you're a man!"
Well, she was wrong, as are all people who would equate the body of a fetus with a woman's body proper. The fetus is not something she can create by herself, she required sperm from a male to build the child, thus she did not own all of the materials used in it's construction. The genetic material of the father must remain his posession, and all products (children) to come from them must be "his" in part also.
This should be intuitive. If one feels it is not they should re-examine why they feel it is just that a father must pay child-support to kids he fathers but does not provide care for. The logic behind this should govern the question of abortion sovereignty rights also. Responsibility derives from a sense of "ownership." (again, not precisely the right word)
It is wrong to view the issue of abortion as something which should only concern women. This isn't a feminist issue, but a human one, and thus men as much as women must bear, and deserve to bear, the weight of decision if it comes to a choice between abortion or not.
Were I going to be a father,
I insist on sharing her "right to choose."
- Pajaro
None.
