(X-post from TwoX) A Misouri state representative proposed a bill which would require pregnant women to obtain written consent from the father in order to have an abortion. Now, I think men should have more reproductive rights, but this bill is just horrible!

yelirbear · 2014-12-17T20:58:32+00:00

Disgusting piece of legislation. It is trying to be more fair to the father with a giant step ion the wrong direction. The mother decides whether or not she wants to be a mother. That being said the father should be able to decide whether or not he wants to be the father. If he says he wants nothing to do with the child he should have that right.

Leinadro · 2014-12-17T23:34:10+00:00

This is nonsense.

Men want control over their owm bodies not women's.

whatsupfolks · 2014-12-18T00:22:21+00:00

First of all, this is completely unconstitutional and the entire suggestion of the bill is a complete waste of time, as it has no chance of being enforceable:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood_v._Casey

The whole thing feels like a bill that is designed to create attention, a big blockbuster social issue to get people focused on one thing, whilst constitutional and equally abhorrent bills on non-social issues go through as unanimously passed "sleepers".

Now, putting aside law and politics, and looking at it purely from a moral standpoint. I do think there is a moral obligation for the woman to discuss the abortion before having the procedure done if she is in a stable and monogamous relationship, but there should never be a legal obligation, as it opens up too many potential loopholes, and at the end of the day, the woman should be able to decide whether she goes through the 9 months of pregnancy or not.

I feel like this bill, even though it is unenforceable, is a sad reality of how out of touch, and how painfully far away we are from having politicians acting truly in men's interests. A bill which would allow Legal Paternal Surrender before a Mother gives birth would be constitutional, and would be a truly great debate.

But here we are looking at a bill that is impossible, truly can harm women, and does absolutely nothing for men. Also prepare for bullshit from feminists claiming that the creator of this bill is an "MRA". Ugh.

wazzup987 · 2014-12-17T20:24:05+00:00

What a terrible fucking idea

wlxr · 2014-12-18T00:50:53+00:00

This is the inverse of what men want solved. Jesus fucking christ.

sibqm_lmvm · 2014-12-17T20:26:05+00:00

Even though I'm a men's rights activist, I will always agree that he woman has the final say in whether or not the fetus is aborted. It is her body, and, while the father may consult and influence her, I think that it is her choice, no matter what.

I've discussed this for years, and it is certainly a tough battle to find balance for those men who want to keep the child. If an agreement can be worked out which would allow the man to adopt the child after it is born, I'm all for that as long as the woman agrees to it. Forcing a woman to go through all the shit that is pregnancy is wrong. If she wants to go through with it, though, I'm all for it.

This politician is setting back the push for reproductive rights for both men and women by acting like a massive asshole. Women should not have to jump through all these hoops to get an abortion. It doesn't matter if she was raped, abused, dumped in a one night stand, abducted and impregnated by aliens, whatever. If she wants it, it's her choice.

Speaking of, what about women who don't know who the father is, or who can't get a hold of him? Will they really be forced to deliver because of that?

fashanoo · 2014-12-18T00:28:59+00:00

I don't usually post here, but have to say how impressed I am by ALL the comments in this thread. It would be nice for everyday people to see that many people sympathetic to the MRM are such reasonable, empathetic and intelligent people, rather than the power-hungry, misogynisic, entitled brats that social and online media portrays Them as

Leinadro · 2014-12-18T02:06:10+00:00

If this isn't an opportunity to get something going with feminists and women's advocates I don't know what is. We don't like this. They don't like this.

Perfect chance for a united front.

scottsouth · 2014-12-17T23:03:35+00:00

A woman should always have the legal right to an abortion, and a man should always have the right to Legal Parental Surrender (a right that women already have).

GenderNeutralLanguag · 2014-12-18T00:58:02+00:00

Exclusively her body. Exclusively her choice. Exclusively her responsibility.

MRA don't want to deny women choice. We want the person making the choice to be the person responsible for the choice.

SuperBicycleTony · 2014-12-18T09:52:18+00:00

Here's my unpopular opinion: I don't care how badly giving equal rights breaks the system. Fix it later, and fix it around the fact that people have equal rights. Hell, if men had the same reproductive rights as women, not only would we have this, but we'd also be able to demand an abortion of a baby we don't want. The PC solution, that you be able to walk away, is not the same as having the right not to be a father.

Deansdale · 2014-12-18T10:13:52+00:00

Since it's practically impossible to know the genetic father of a fetus in the womb, any pregnant woman can present written consent from any man at all. Who's to say that he isn't the father? In case the mother+father are married, well, I must say it's entirely reasonable to expect that the husband should have a say in his wife's potential abortion. I'm not saying this is a good proposal, these are just some stray thoughts about it.

Family-Duty-Hodor · 2014-12-17T20:18:13+00:00

I think the current situation, in which women have the final say in deciding wether or not to abort a child, regardless of the father's feelings, is just wrong. However, forcing women to obtain written consent from the father - enabling a man to force a woman to carry a child she doesn't want to term - is much, much worse.

So, how do you all feel about this?

DavidByron2 · 2014-12-17T20:55:01+00:00

Bit procrustean. Although oddly that still wouldn't give men equal rights.

bluewit · 2014-12-17T22:21:01+00:00

http://np.reddit.com/r/TwoXChromosomes/comments/2pl1cu/a_missouri_republican_is_pushing_a_bill_that/cmxr0sc

Pretty well said... would wanna submit to bestof..if this site weren't so imbalanced

ghebert001 · 2014-12-18T12:51:08+00:00

Giving one side rights should not result in the other losing theirs. If only feminists would feel the same.

ButIGetUpAgain · 2014-12-18T16:40:17+00:00

But if she didn't want to get pregnant she should have used protection/shouldn't have had sex. I don't believe this, I'm just using the argument commonly used with child support

aussietoads · 2014-12-18T01:52:38+00:00

" "When a man goes in for that procedure—at least in the state of Missouri—you have to have a consent form from your spouse in order to have that procedure done," he says. "Here I was getting a normal procedure that has nothing to do with another human being's life, and I needed to get a signed form…But on ending a life, you don't. I think that's pretty twisted.""

Horrible bill or not, it's pretty hard not to see the duplicity of laws regarding bodily autonomy with regard to sexual reproduction. I had a vasectomy nearly 30 years ago, and I had to get a signed release by my wife, who fortunately, agreed with the procedure. The medical profession made it quite clear that they would not proceed without my wife's written permission.

It is the ultimate hypocrisy, that a man has to get permission for an operation which prevents a pregnancy from happening in the first place, yet a woman can have an operation that kills another living person without so much as a howdy do from the husband/partner.

TheLordOfShit · 2014-12-18T16:25:46+00:00

No, OP you are wrong. Females should not be allowed to murder the children of men based on their own whims and lack of conscience.

TheDongerNeedsFood · 2014-12-18T01:35:57+00:00

Horrible bill, but unfortunately it might be bills like this that are needed to obtain more reproductive rights for fathers. Also, let's see how the feminists like shit like this, reminds you of those doctors requiring the wife's written consent for men to get vasectomies.

TRPACC · 2014-12-18T10:51:01+00:00

Some states require a wife's permission to get a vasectomy ...

Until women in general are supportive of fathers and reproductive rights for men I don't think we should be supportive on their reproductive rights.

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