I should have qualified my statement: when I say "power", I mean legislative power. I agree with you on most of your statements. During my decision, my mate was there and was supportive and let me come to the ultimate decision. I definitely tried to take his concerns into account. But the feminist in me says that as it's ultimately my body that will be put into the most difficult situation (pregnancy and birth), the decision to carry the pregnancy to term should be mine.
There is a contingent of men--how large, I could not tell you--that wants a man to have veto power over the woman's right to choose. I cannot and will not agree to that and will fight that as strongly as I possibly can. That would effectively strip the woman of all personal power and choice and would relegate her back under the thumb of her current mate.
why have sex if you're not ready to deal with consequences.
Because it feels good. Forgive me for being so flippant, but seriously, this is why so many teenagers are having sex. Teenagers aren't giving much thought to the idea of having a child or, if they do, the idea is very romanticized. Teenagers in most cases are too young to stand trial as an adult--why should they be stuck with being a parent at such an age?
Now, for those my age, yeah, those defenses are gone. Still, accidents happen--condoms break, etc. One of my main reasons for having my abortion--that I was too poor to adequately raise a child--is still true. So if I were to become pregnant again, how would my decision change? Why should it change? (This is mostly devil's advocate, since I made a personal promise that I would keep my next pregnancy. Still, bringing a child up in poverty is pretty much damning that child to a life of poverty.)
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2004-07-06 08:18 pm (UTC)There is a contingent of men--how large, I could not tell you--that wants a man to have veto power over the woman's right to choose. I cannot and will not agree to that and will fight that as strongly as I possibly can. That would effectively strip the woman of all personal power and choice and would relegate her back under the thumb of her current mate.
why have sex if you're not ready to deal with consequences.
Because it feels good. Forgive me for being so flippant, but seriously, this is why so many teenagers are having sex. Teenagers aren't giving much thought to the idea of having a child or, if they do, the idea is very romanticized. Teenagers in most cases are too young to stand trial as an adult--why should they be stuck with being a parent at such an age?
Now, for those my age, yeah, those defenses are gone. Still, accidents happen--condoms break, etc. One of my main reasons for having my abortion--that I was too poor to adequately raise a child--is still true. So if I were to become pregnant again, how would my decision change? Why should it change? (This is mostly devil's advocate, since I made a personal promise that I would keep my next pregnancy. Still, bringing a child up in poverty is pretty much damning that child to a life of poverty.)