by exploited » Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:32 am
The whole argument is ridiculous in the extreme, a classic example of theoretical equality versus substantive equality, and how the former is often used to subjugate the latter.
To Com and Hyperion, it isn't about establishing equality in the real world, it is about satisfying the internal logic of the concept of equality.
The real world dictates that women, and women alone, carry the child. It resides in their body. Meaning that women, and women alone, have the right to decide to go through with the pregnancy or not.
In their minds, this means that the man is at a disadvantage, because he didn't have a say in the matter, but he is expected to pay for the child once it is born. Nevermind the tremendously negative realities of being pregnant, or of aborting a child you want to have. These consequences don't matter.
On the face of it, it makes sense, because what appears to matter is equality of choice. If she can decide this, I can decide that.
The real world impact of these choices are not evaluated. The substantive consequences are ignored, because the choices are "equal," even if they are not.
On one hand, you have a person who is given the choice between having an abortion or raising the kid on her own. On the other hand, you have a person whose choices are pay nothing or pay nothing. Either way, the entire life, and responsibility for that life, resides with the woman - and that is "fair," in their minds.
It is fair because men have penises and women have vaginas, which means that no matter what choices the man makes, or the woman makes, or they both make together, it is ultimately her responsibility to face the negative consequences of those decisions. But the man? Nope, he can never face a negative consequence. That would be unequal.
Last edited by
exploited on Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:47 am, edited 1 time in total.