by Katherine Phillips

Created on: July 01, 2009

Should the man have a vote in whether or not a woman can have an abortion, no. Until the father can give birth, he doesn't get the final say in anything that has to do with the woman's body. She is the one who has the most life changing effects from a pregnancy. When was the last time you saw a man getting preferential parking at the mall for being an expectant mom?

I know that the father has a life changing experience when the baby is born, but not until there is delivery. Until then, he can walk away and return if he chooses at the 9 month mark. How is that fair? Do strangers walk up to him to rub his belly? I think not. Does he retain water? Nope. Does he have trouble standing up from a low chair? I think not. The father of the baby has no physical signs that he is having a baby. His life doesn't change until the baby is physically out.

Those are the physical signs. What about what happens at her job or school? She is the one who gets the stares if she is a young mother. She is the one that has to change schools so that she can have parenting classes along with her regular studies. There will be people talking behind her back. If she happens to be a bit older and working, she has her co-workers and family to deal with. "Who is the father?" "Are you getting married?" What if there is no marriage? What if there is no happily ever after? What if she doesn't want to answer those questions from family and friends? Yes, she could have been more careful when having sex with someone she may not be in a stable relationship with. Accidents happen though, and he could have said no too.

It comes down to the fact that it is her body, not his. There is no way around that. He has an opinion to give, but she has no duty to follow his wishes. This is about her and what works for her life. The negative for the man is that if he wants her to have an abortion and she doesn't want to, he will be paying child support. Again his vote doesn't count for much. He will be forced by the court to pay.

The moral of the story is that both parties are responsible for creating a life so be careful and use protection. If the man wants to have a bigger role in what the woman does then he should be in a relationship with the woman and have discussed this scenario before hand. It isn't exactly foreplay so make sure it is a conversation before sex is in motion. The reality is that the woman has the final say on whether or not that life will come into the world. Sorry guys, but until you can get pregnant that's the way it should be.

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