We Know What's Best For The Little Woman

[filkertom]

By way of vixyish: Read, and read. And then, after you're done throwing up and gnashing your teeth and cursing these fucking evil moron Puritan babysitter wannabes to the skies, act, and act.

ETA: Honestly, gang, while I appreciate you asking if you can copy a link, you can pretty much assume that if I put the links up here and tell you to go do something about them, [a] they're reasonably safe, at least on a browser/system security basis, and [b] it's okay to copy 'em to your own LJ or wherever. Dang, but I've got a polite buncha friends. :)

Comments

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

Honestly you've come the closest to vocalizing how I feel about the whole abortion issue. I've been pro-life for years, I can't be anything but given my own beliefs and the way life's taken me so far.

I do agree that a person has the right to be childless, however with that right comes certain responsibilities. This is where I tend to, unintentionally, upset people because I think that if you don't want kids then you should A) Use a condom or other form of birth control, B) Get your tubes tied, or C) keep it in your bloody pants. Whenever I've mentioned these before, to others I've talked to, they've acted like those weren't even options. Abortion and abortion alone is the only option and that's a rather disturbing position to take. At least from my perspective.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

I've never met anyone who advocates abortion as the sole method of birth control. If I had, I'd probably have slapped them; it's as irresponsible a policy as any other I can think of.

I have no doubt they're out there, though. And I also have no doubt that the same group that opposes abortion, which also opposes birth control, contributes to their existence. (Not fully responsible for them, but a serious contributor.)

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

See my comment below. This isn't just about abortion. This law would allow medical professionals to refuse both A) and B) (and pretty much any other treatment) to patients of both genders, including refusing to provide any information about them, even in cases where the primary reason for the treatment is not birth control but some other medical condition, and the pharmacy/hospital/etc. is not allowed to do anything about it.

No longer pro-life

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

A) Birth control fails. I know a lady who ended up having an abortion because her birth control failed and her recently-coned cervix was incompetent to finish a pregnancy. This is not a reason NOT to use it. It's the first line of defense.

B) Most doctors will not do tubals or vasectomies on people who don't have at least 3 kids. Most childfree people fight very hard to get one. Beside, we're talking surgery with up to 6 month of pain (in my experience)

C) Abstaining is not an option for a lot of people. My husband would be very disappointed.

I am pro-choice because I believe women are competent to make the right decision for themselves and their families, both current and future. I'm a birth control militant, but cognizant that it does fail.

Re: No longer pro-life

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

B) Most doctors will not do tubals or vasectomies on people who don't have at least 3 kids. Most childfree people fight very hard to get one. Beside, we're talking surgery with up to 6 month of pain (in my experience)

How very odd. When Beth and I were married we discussed a number of things. For various medical reasons it would have been a Bad Idea for her to become pregnant. I called my doctor, got a referral and got a vasectomy.

Re: No longer pro-life

[ladysoapmaker.livejournal.com]

And notice you, the guy, didn't have trouble. How old were you when you did this? Whereas if it had been your wife I bet you dollar to donuts she would have had people right and left trying to talk her out of her decision.

I have a friend who tried to get her tubes tied when she was under age 25, for medical reasons. She never did find a doctor who would do it because "she was too young and what would happen if she changed her mind". Her insurance also limited the doctor she could afford also.

Re: No longer pro-life

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

I was 25 at the time. And you did say "tubals or vasectomies" so I thought I'd chime in with my experience.

As an aside I will state for the record that I am quite pro choice, even if I do find the concept distasteful. Though when I do explain my full views on abortion and capital punishment I tend to get people on both sides of the issue mad at me.

[ladysoapmaker.livejournal.com]

But what happens when the 20 year old who doesn't want kids goes to the doctor to get her tubes tied and the doctor says you're too young to make this decision sorry. Most doctors won't even consider tying a women's tube if she hasn't had any children or if they are under the age of 35. Other then abstinence nothing else is 100% effective and I doubt many marriages where both do not want children like not having sex.

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

B) Get your tubes tied

Good luck finding a doctor who will do this to a childless female, or any female under the age of 35.

[trifleresplende.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but what if a woman does any of those options, and gets raped? Are you implying that female rape victims were being irresponsible by not "Avoiding rape"? Not necessarily of the "She was wearin' a skirt!" variety, but pretty close.

And what if birth control doesn't work?

Furthermore, it may be that abortion seems to be the only option from your perspective because in any discussion of abortion, a pro-choicer will declare that women have the right to have an abortion. Just because one has the RIGHT to have one, that also includes the right to choose not to have an abortion. There really are only two options. Allow women to have abortions, or restrict their ability to choose.