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From: tew@cbnewsb.cb.att.COM ("tricia.edge.wood")
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: birth control failure?
Message-ID: <1991Jun7.145856.12680@cbfsb.att.com>
Date: 7 Jun 91 18:44:11 GMT
References: <675716623@lear.cs.duke.edu> <1991Jun04.053815.2412091@locus.com> <676070239@lime.cs.duke.edu>
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In article <676070239@lime.cs.duke.edu> gazit@cs.duke.edu (Hillel Gazit) writes:
>
>In article <1991Jun04.053815.2412091@locus.com> judy@locus.com (Judy Leedom Tyrer) writes:
>
>>How's this sound...
>
>>If the man used a birth control device and if the man can prove that this
>>device was properly used but failed anyway, then the man can legally
>>deny parentage to the child and cannot be brought to court later.  However,
>>if the man did NOT attempt to his best ability to provide birth control,
>>he is stuck!  That way, if you REALLY don't want a child, you have the
>>ability to make sure in every way possible that you won't have one and
>>the legal incentive to carry this out.
>
>It sounds to *me* just like:
>
>If the woman used a birth control device and if the woman can prove that
>this device was properly used but failed anyway, then the woman can legally
>have an abortion.  However, if the woman did NOT attempt to his best
>ability to provide birth control, she is stuck!  That way, if you REALLY
>don't want a child, you have the ability to make sure in every way possible
>that you won't have one and the legal incentive to carry this out.
>
>>Judy Tyrer
>
>Hillel                                                   gazit@cs.duke.edu

I thought abortion was a method of birth control.  Yes, you're right,
Hillel, it isn't fair that women have a method of birth control
available to them after pregnancy occurs and men do not.  It's just
not fair that if a man does not want children, he must use birth
control before he engages in sexual intercourse; a woman, though, can
wait until after she becomes pregnant to use birth control.  It's also
not fair that only women bear children and suffer all the pain and
risks of pregnancy and childbirth, while men do not.

Your proposal for "equality" in birth control basically says men don't
have to use birth control at all; it's entirely up to the woman to
prevent an unwanted pregnancy.  If a man doesn't want children, he can
ignore the pregnancy as long as he is willing to give up his rights
(and responsibilities) to the child.  A woman still has a choice,
though...she can just go get that abortion.  She could have used birth
control before sexual intercourse, and she still can.  The man doesn't
want any part of it, so he says, "Hey, Babe, it's your choice.  You
can still exercise your right to an abortion, but I don't have any
options now, and I don't want kids.  Sorry."  She can take consolation
in the fact that he won't have any rights towards the child if she
goes through with the pregnancy.  She still has all these great
options left, though!  She can get an abortion, a (so far still) legal
option for birth control.  An option that she might be morally opposed
to, an option that is painful and risky, but still an option.  Or she
could have the child and take all risk, responsibility (and rights)
for the child.

It sounds pretty "equal" to me.  I'm being sarcastic, of course; I'm
quite sure, though, that it sounds fair to you, Hillel.

It is not possible to make birth control "equal" between men and
women, just as it is not possible to make childbirth "equal" between
men and women.  Biology does not allow men to give birth, or to have a
birth control option available to them after pregnancy occurs.
There's no way you'll ever see that as fair, Hillel.  I don't, either.


-T.E. Wood