[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

I was thinking a bit about this today as my DD has recently been telling me about the 16yr olds she know that are currently pregnant. One of them the father wants nothing to do with it but the girl is insisting on continuing the pregnancy.

I get that it is her right but what about the rights of the father? If she decided she didn't want the baby she could abort it but what if the father did want it?

What if the mother continues with the pregnancy against his wishes he will ultimately be responsible for that child for life? Do you see this as fair? I don't.

The father actually doesn't get a say in it. The mother ultimately has the final say and the father has to live with that decision.

I know there is no right and wrong answer here but how do you feel about it?

[ALittleBitter]

I think he should have thought about that before having sex then... there is no other option. You cant force women to have abortions nor can you force them to continue a pregnancy.

[Belle~Vie]

I don't think by an stretch of the imagination that it's an ideal situation, for all involved.

Much as I do feel for the father in these situations (as they have no say), you can't very well force someone to have or abort a child against their wishes, or at least it certainly doesn't seem right to me.

My good friend's partner got pregnant (when they were in their mid 20's & dating for a year), he only found out after she'd had an abortion. A few months later he was diagnosed with testicular cancer & was left infertile by the treatment to save his life. Their relationship didn't survive much longer after that. I don't think there is a right or a wrong, just sad in a way for all.

[wallofdodo]

No I don't think it is fair either way. Yes they should have thought about it, but that is not the point.

In an ideal world it would be lovely if there could be some form of mediation. Where al parties involved, including parents could sit down and discuss it, and arrive at an outcome.

I am sure it would not always work out, as there are too many emotions involved.

[SeaPork]

I think that the alternatives are even more unfair. It would be unfair of him to have any say in the woman's body about continuing/not continuing the pregnancy, and it would be unfair on the child if he was able to neglect his responsibilities (although there are men that do this, it still isn't fair)

If a teenage boy (or any bloke) isn't aware of his rights or lack of in the event of a pregnancy, or would have a big issue with an unwanted pregnancy, then they need to use condoms (aware that they are not 100% effective) or abstain.

This post has been edited by ~Spacey~: 03/08/2012, 06:18 PM

[Owl_Little_Girls]

I think the mother should at that point, should she decide to continue the pregnancy, know she is doing it alone. So often the story of a mother deciding to keep the baby, then once the baby is born crying foul that the father isn't around. She knew that was the way it was going to be.

The father does not want the child, and he has no say in it. Sad really, but he should have thought about that before he slept with her I guess.

If you are mature enough to do that, you should be mature enough to deal with the possible outcome. If not, keep your darn clothes on!!

[Oriental lily]

Men do have a choice it's called 'not having sex'.

This 16 year old has stuffed up.

And to a certain degree it's not fair. BUT the alternative is forcing a woman to have an abortion.

Which is way worse than a man having to be responsible for someone he created through his own horney impulsive action.

It's a tough old world, no doubt about it and the reality is woman have monopoly on the decision about pregnancy if it should continue or not.

I suppose it's a fair exchange in the fact that men are spared the gestation and birth part of procreation.

[BobTheBottersnik...]

Really, daddy should have been thinking with his big head, not his little head when he made that particular decision....

[tibs]

I think he should have thought about that before having sex then... there is no other option. You cant force women to have abortions nor can you force them to continue a pregnancy.

Yep he should have kept it in his pants if he didn't want the potential for a child, it isn't news that it is the woman's body and her decision as to the fate of any child they concieve. We'd be going back to the dark ages if it wasn't that way IMO.

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

There are a lot of woman out there who do trick their partners into thinking they are protected. It is fair enough to say they should have used condoms but what about in long term relationships?

On the train yesterday (where I hear all the good stuff) there was a group of teenagers talking about one of these girls my DD knows. They were saying how she tricked him into getting her pregnant so she could keep him. Apparently she told him she was unable to have babies. Now I know they were just teenagers talking and it probably was just all hearsay but it obviously it does happen.