Mandatory fatherhood

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Thu Jan 30 12:32:46 PST 2003


[bounced bec of technical difficulties]

Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 15:34:17 -0500 From: "Lisa Frank" <lisa.frank at ranknfile-ue.org> To: dhenwood at panix.com

Nathan Newman wrote:


> Let's flip the issue a bit-- why can mandatory fatherhood be imposed on men
> if a woman gets pregnant? If she chooses not to get an abortion, a one-time
> sexual encounter can become a lifetime financial responsibility with no
> choice by the man involved. Some anti-abortion feminists argue that it is
> precisely the option of abortion that leaves men feeling justified in
> walking away from responsibilities from unexpected pregnancies. Where do
> values of "choice" come in such a situation?

Jeez, Nathan, why not draw the obvious and indeed feminist conclusion that mandatory fatherhood is also deplorable? The current practice of running down the father for child support before affording children access to (too meager) public support is sexist and regressive and we should oppose it. All children (and indeed all people) ought to have basic rights to food, shelter, education, healthcare so that no one's well-being hinges on the good will or sense of responsibility of this or that or the next male.



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