For decades the debate over abortion has always revolved around the rights of women. And in the early days, this was probably the right thing to do.
However many people nowadays feel that the issue is just as much a man’s problem. After all, they are also needed to create a baby.
Yet, men generally have never got involved except perhaps to support or pass laws such as the 1968 law passed by the UK parliament and pushed through by former MP David Steel.
But men should be involved in the debate, and there are several reasons for doing so.
As someone who contributes towards the pregnancy, his rights are generally denied. However many men who want to get involved with the upbringing of their children are at times denied this role because their other half has made the decision they don’t want the baby.
While women have a right to make the ultimate decision this maybe without consultation. Is that fair on men?
On the opposite side of this coin there are some circumstances in which women are pressurised into having an abortion. Ironically it is men who are often under pressure to conform to the pro life campaigns. As such, men should be talking about the pros and cons and not just the cons of abortion.
Until now, when a baby is born and a marriage breaks down, the child will in all probability be given to the mother as she is deemed to be the most important part of the care of any offspring.
However men are just as capable, yet this is not recognised in law. Equally men are deemed incapable of deciding on the rights and wrongs of abortion. Again, this seems rather unfair in the 21st century.
Thankfully this is changing.
Finally, it does seem strange that while the majority of the world is run by men, they make decisions that affect both sexes. But where it comes to abortion the same men are shut out.
If equality between the sexes means anything, then why should men be shut out from the abortion debate?