by Debra Wattes

Created on: June 12, 2010

Unfortunately this is one of those topics where a straight yes or no doesn't suffice. When a woman gets pregnant, it depends on the circumstances surrounding the conception as to whether the male involved should have a say. Another point is; what environment is the child being born into? If there is conflict regarding keeping the baby, then there is obviously conflict in the environment and why would you bring a child into this in the first place. I mean isn't it really about what is best for the child.

Obviously if she is raped, then he definitely doesn't get a say. If the pregnancy is unplanned, then it also depends on whether it was conceived in a mutually irresponsible decision of not using any type of birth control. For example: if the woman wanted to get pregnant but the man didn't, and she decided to go behind his back and pierce his condoms, or stop taking the pill- in this circumstance; "proving it can be difficult of course" the male does get a say, as she has manipulated the outcome. If the male is the manipulator and changes her pills to sugar pills or lies about using a condom (although most woman should realize this unless in a drunken stupor), then No, he doesn't get a say. And if she got pregnant by accident from no contraception being used, then is shouldn't really be an issue.

If the pregnancy is planned, and a split ensues then yes he does get a say; this is the only circumstance where he would get a say. But; if the split was due to violence in the home- then the baby should not be born as it is unfair to the child.

Therefore in weighing the result of potential circumstances we are two all.

But the constant argument of "It’s her body so therefore it is her decision" does have some weigh- as much as men don’t like it. Carrying an unborn child to birth is a great stress on a woman's body; she also has to make several sacrifices. Giving up her body for one which she has more than likely spent many years going without to keep, certain foods, socializing, buying new unflattering clothes, being uncomfortable, dealing with sometimes very painful bloating and passing gas, back pain- which sometimes is permanent, the obvious excruciating pain of labour and the humiliation of giving birth. She also has to deal with the effort of getting her body back into shape. Her hips expand "permanently" and it unlikely she will ever get into those favorite jeans ever again. She has a permanent layer of body fat tat she never had, she

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