Married women and abortions

Do you think that a woman's martial status should affect the way abortions are perceived? In other words: if you're pro-choice, are you less inclined to agree with a married woman's decision to not have the child she and her husband conceived? In this case, do you think that the mans (husbands) rights should have more standing than if the two were unmarried?

I’m pro-choice too and I suppose that on some intellectual level it shouldn’t make a difference if the woman is married to the man who got her pregnant but on an emotional level I can’t help feeling that it does. Even so, there are too many variables in the equation to just give a straight yes or no answer. For example, did they marry with the clear understanding that neither wanted children and after the “accident” the husband changes his mind and now wants to be a father but the wife still doesn’t want to be a mother? I’d have no sympathy to his parental rights though if he had gone so far as to sabotage their method of birth control. If the situation was that they both eventually wanted children but we postponing for financial or career reasons and the woman wanted to abort, I think it’s her right to do so but I wouldn’t applaud the decision. Likewise, if the procedure rendered her infertile or she couldn’t conceive later when she wanted to get pregnant, I’d probably tell her, “Gee. Sucks to be you.”

Well....I can't understand why a married couple would abort their child if they are able to provide for it. I don't get it. I don't like abortion at all if its performed after 4 weeks as it is. If a couple has a few kids and don't want any more then either get that vasectomy or tubal ligation to avoid this altogether.

I'm not much a fan of abortions period, but IMO no matter how much a "choice" it is for a woman to have one or not have one, if she knows 100% who the father is then she has a moral obligation to take his position to heart and to heavily factor it into what she finally decides to do. That said, can't really understand why a married woman would wanna abort her husbands child.

alan smithee wrote:I’m pro-choice too and I suppose that on some intellectual level it shouldn’t make a difference if the woman is married to the man who got her pregnant but on an emotional level I can’t help feeling that it does. Even so, there are too many variables in the equation to just give a straight yes or no answer. For example, did they marry with the clear understanding that neither wanted children and after the “accident” the husband changes his mind and now wants to be a father but the wife still doesn’t want to be a mother? I’d have no sympathy to his parental rights though if he had gone so far as to sabotage their method of birth control. If the situation was that they both eventually wanted children but we postponing for financial or career reasons and the woman wanted to abort, I think it’s her right to do so but I wouldn’t applaud the decision. Likewise, if the procedure rendered her infertile or she couldn’t conceive later when she wanted to get pregnant, I’d probably tell her, “Gee. Sucks to be you.”

. I would hope you would marry someone that you're totally on the same page with. Personally, if I was married and I got pregnant and I *might* want an abortion and my husband was dead set against it, I wouldn't do it. But I can't imagine being married and we totally disagreeing about a situation like that.

Perception shouldn't at all matter when it comes to reproductive rights. It's still the woman's body if she's married or not, but the RIGHT thing to do is to always consider the dads wishes.

Nah, it doesn't make much difference to me. Murder is wrong in both cases.

Chris wrote:Do you think that a woman's martial status should affect the way abortions are perceived? In other words: if you're pro-choice, are you less inclined to agree with a married woman's decision to not have the child she and her husband conceived? In this case, do you think that the mans (husbands) rights should have more standing than if the two were unmarried?

Martial status should in no way affect how abortions are perceived. Even if a married couple decides they don't want children and are prepared for it, accidents do happen. I agree with a woman's decision for an abortion no matter if she's married or single. Why have a child if you don't want it just because your married? Marriage brings no obligation to have children. The man's rights and opinions should always be considered, but in the end it's up the female, she's the one carrying the child. I sure as hell wouldn't have a baby if I didn't want it, despite what my husband said about it.

I can't get with the idea of a married woman not wanting to have her husbands baby to the point where she'd abort....but yeah pro-choice has to go all the way and accept all reasons why, no matter how nonsensical some may be.

I don't see how anyone could be pro-choice, yet have distinctions on who should be able to practice the right. Married, single, whatever, pro-choice is pro-choice.

RedBedroom wrote:I don't see how anyone could be pro-choice, yet have distinctions on who should be able to practice the right. Married, single, whatever, pro-choice is pro-choice.

At the same time, everyone DOES have a line. It's not the same place for everybody, but everyone has a line.

Chris wrote:Do you think that a woman's martial status should affect the way abortions are perceived?

Not at all. Abortion rights are there to protect a woman's body…not a single woman's body. I would hope that any woman who becomes pregnant would consult with the father on how to handle the situation, but the choice is ultimately hers; no matter what her martital status is.

I think my thoughts have pretty much been covered already. Legally there isn't even a question here, as every woman (despite marital status) is entitled to choose to have an abortion - or not. On a personal level (which again has already been stated), the moral thing for a woman to do is to heed the fathers opinion. Although for reason I think there is much more seeming sincerity on the guys part if he's on the side of keeping the baby than if he's trying to get her to terminate the pregnancy. But I'm getting off track there. The bottom line is that reproductive rights protect ALL women, not just those who're single.