...And Justice For All

One of the legal changes to where I live took place a few months ago, snuck through under the radar by state government. Abortion where i live is now legal... & bravo say I. It is the free choice of those would be parents to decide if they are ready to be parents, ready or even able to bring into the world another mouth to feed.

And in there's the rub, the choice of both would be parents. On one of my many lengthy debates with friends and family i have been accused of being sexist, narrow minded and even dictatorial on the subject of abortion, why you ask? I shall share.

It is & has been for many years my strong belief that abortion should be legal, an choice for individuals, but that the legal position surrounding abortion must be addressed in the interest of sexual equality. Now just hold on a second i hear the feminists cry, it's our body that suffers, it's our figure shot to bits, its us that will be expected to raise the child so why should the father have a say? Well let us stop and think for just a brief moment before we slaughter lady justice on the alter of post feminism. Assuming that a couple have received this happy (or unhappy assuming they are considering abortion) news, & that said couple have reached this juncture via consensual sex then must not the feelings of the father be taken into account? If the conception was consensual then all decision will follow should also be.

Alas men fine themselves in a no win situation, if the mother wants to keep the child despite the fathers opinions then he ends up a dad to a child he didn't want, meeting costs he knew he couldn't afford. If he wants to keep the child and the mother wants an abortion then he has no choice, he must live out his days in the knowledge of what could have been.

Regardless of if i am pro-life or not this position is untenable... To often in today's family courts the mothers position is one of absolute power, while the father's is ignored and treated with contempt, but the rant of injustice regarding support, contact and residency of children within estranged families is one for a much longer blog post...