This AlterNet article got me thinking about reproductive rights. Often, when we talk about reproductive rights, we talk only about how reproductive rights affect cis women. The ability of cis women to decide whether or not to have a child and to control their own uteruses. The availability of birth control as healthcare to treat everything from polycystic ovary syndrome to heavy periods to (yes) being sexually active and not wanting a child. The cis women who are mothers, get pregnant, and realize they cannot have another child
However, there’s a missing narrative in this discussion. The experiences of trans people (many of whom have uteruses and would like to control them) are, of course, erased. But so are the experiences of cis men. There are cis men right now– in fact, approximately one-third of men– who would be fathers or have more children if it weren’t for abortion. There are cis men right now who have enjoyed a more pleasurable sex life because their partner could be on birth control. There are cis men who got to go to college or get a career that they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise, who didn’t have to be involved with a woman who wasn’t right for them to do right by their kids, who became better fathers to their children– all because of the reproductive rights of people with uteruses.
So this is an Open Thread for talking about those erased experiences.
Commenting Note: Cis men and trans people of all genders are encouraged to share how birth control and abortion have helped them. Cis women may share the experiences of cis men or trans people that they know. Unhappy stories (i.e. “my partner didn’t have an abortion and now I’m a dad and don’t want to be,” “my partner had an abortion and I wanted the kid,” etc.), while important, are off-topic for this thread, as is debate about whether abortion should be legal. Let’s try to keep it happy.
I’m a cis man who had a vasectomy a few years ago. It feels awesome to take control of one’s life that way and not be entirely dependent on someone else’s diligence and, yes, honesty with something so potentially life-altering as birth control. I love the extra layer of protection and I also like being able to offer a partner the option to eschew hormonal BC and still fluid-bond with me.
I’m glad that somebody who isnt an MRA noticed this. I don’t know much about trans people and pregnancy, but I do know that in a world where nuclear families are expected, or really any families, birth control is kind of supposed to be of equal importance. It’s also (dare I criticize a little) nice to see a discussion of this that is actually consequentialist rather than focusing on some kind of all-overpowering right to bodily autonomy. Anybody interested in examining the stereotyped ‘YOU. MUST. USE. CONDOMS.’ threat made to young, newly sexually active men by their parents? I don’t… Read more »
Well condoms provide STD protection and another layer of BC, dropping the chance of pregnancy form like 1%/year to something like .1% or.3%. Also in all honesty there may be some bad people (rapists) out their who will lie about BC, but who may not be willing to attempt more direct threats, force or sabotage.
I think we’ve already done the condom thing to death from both sides of the issue in the last few weeks, so I don’t think there’s really much point in revisiting it.
Is financial abortion off-topic as well?
I’m all for legalizing both abortion and financial abortion. No one should be forced into parenthood after conception.
Yes. It’s off-topic. 🙂
No probs, are you running any stories on that topic anytime soon?