With the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, the precedent had been set- abortion is legal . The decision was highly influenced because of an emotional appeal that had been made by the Roe party. Her attorneys suggested that men (who were the decision makers) are in no position to deem abortion immoral because of their lack of empathy to- or experience of- being a woman. The topic of abortion is obviously a sensitive issue, because it borders the line of many sensitive subjects; the female anatomy, religious doctrines, our beliefs of right and wrong, and our own prescriptions on life. However, as we modernize the issue, the question becomes: Who controls whether the abortion happens? And if there is a disagreement between man and woman about getting an abortion, who has the last say? This argument, given the sensitivities I have aforementioned, involves way more than jurisdiction. Just because the woman houses the body (some people consider it a fetus) surely cannot mean that she possesses primary decision of the fate of the child, does it? Two people play a role in conception, so two people should play just as vital role in deciding what is rejected, so to speak. However, I think at the heart of the argument, there is even a larger issue- yet so simplistic. Who controls the decision to abort or not to abort is easily answered based on your response to the following question: Who does the baby belong to? The man or the woman?
Grass cannot grow without its fertilizer- be it manure or water. However, water is pointless if there is no grass to grow. And fertilizer is just as insignificant if there is no grass to fertilize. However, to give authority to the woman to abort is to give sovereignty to the female- which thus eliminates the agency of the male. Furthermore, social constructs probably play the largest role in the decision. Some may argue because the woman carries the body, they feel connected to the new-born baby, and thus, bare a larger burden on the upraising of the baby, regardless of its fate. Also, given the social phenomena of the baby-daddy-never-around-drama, especially in the black community, society is more willing to give the decision to the woman, because 66 % of the time she is raising the child on her own, or without the help that she should have. With that reality, I would certainly consider giving the woman control to whether or not the child should be aborted. However, as I have mentioned, grass cannot grow without fertilizer, so the man has to be consulted or considered, or even given the majority decision. Given the social constructs, and various factors- such as the importance of father figures and male role models in a youths’ life, and the disappearance of such figures in the beloved community, I would suggest that the minority be given the control.
Men have to be in the drivers seat on whether or not an abortion should take place. Abortion is not a women’s rights’ issue, it is everyone’s issue. However, I am suggesting that if the chicken became an endangered species, and if all of humanity needs chicken- I would ask that chicken if it is okay to kill a worm or let that worm live. If a father says he doesn’t want the child, then why should the child be raised with only one parent who wants him. Even more discouraging, why would you have unprotected sex with someone who is not prepared for fatherhood (but that’s a larger argument). Also, if the woman really does gain attachment to the child during the fetus rearing process, even if she didn’t initially want the child- by birth wouldn’t she be welcoming to the infants‘ existence? As we know, this is not the case for men. Ask for the testimony of a single black mother who has been dying to get her child’s father involved. A man who is willing to be engaged in his children’s life is something that has to be considered, even if the mother is leaning towards abortion. The endangered element has to allow some potential mothers to adapt their perspective and allow the man to decide.
Ironically, he is given the choice any other time. He is given the choice to have sex with a woman. Then, he is often given the choice on whether to be protected or not. And even beyond that, he is often given the choice to ejaculate inside the woman’s body. Yet, he is given little authority when it comes to keeping or aborting a child. The fertilization of a fetus, child, pregnancy, etc., is almost always in the hands of man! The decision the woman makes to “lay down” for the man is only a part of the unity. The birth of the child is dependent upon the man’s action. The man literally controls the child. So with my logic, the actual birth of the child should be dependent upon the man’s decision. Once that very real reality is compounded with the societal need for fathers, then the decision is simple: Daddy will tell you yes. Sperm donor will tell you no. Listen to the man. It wont be the first time you will have been made vulnerable to his decision.
-Derrick Reed
