With teens, I've found that including the father in the decision just makes a bad situation worse. I hate to bash males, since I am one, but, typically, the father's hormones are racing, and this influences his thinking. In my experience, the father is almost never an asset to the child's life. The mother, with whatever resources are available, usually limited and state funded, finds a new boyfriend after being dumped when she was too pregnant to find attractive, and the maternal grandparents raise the child. Over and over....

"Rarity from the Hollow"

Robert E, thanks for sharing. I’m glad that this discussion gives you a wider perspective- that counts for me as well.
I didn’t even have the very young teenage father’s hormones in mind when discussing the issue. The parents I had in mind were around 17+, I suppose. I find it very hard to even imagine a boy of say 14 or 15 becoming a father! Poor kids; especially the boys are still so immature!
What’s the sex education at schools like in the USA? I figure much in need for improvement? Sex education in Australia also leaves much room for improvement! It's laughable that there’s still the existence of abstinence sex education in the 21st century!

Any religious people on here- what do you think about improving sex education? Good sex education WILL prevent many abortions.

RObert, very sensible; if the parents-to-be (well I'm talking about 17+ parents now) can manage to come to an agreement of sharing responsibilities this may well prevent the need for an abortion.

OZGIRL, I don’t like the religious views either; usually they are very much anti-choice, but just because I don’t like their view I won’t want to ban them from the discussion either. I just dump their ideas if I find them useless, lol.
The pro-life religious people on here might also wish that my opinion or that of others with a pro-life view were banned. In the end we’d all be too busy gagging each other instead of having a discussion.

I agree with Scout when he said: “We may not always agree, but there is always something to learn.” Very sensible. Nobody should be able to tell someone else to shut up- this is OLO and we should ALL be able to express our opinion. Oops, I even invited the religious to express their opinion ;+)
BTW it’s not only the religious-right men who are pro-life, the women from that corner have the same view.

Hey Guys

You forgot something.

This is not about parenting or even abortion.

Its about a womens right to decide if she wishes to take a tablet to ensure she does not become pregnant.

I am not going for all that cock and bull about something less than the size of a grain or rice being a baby.

What a load of bull dust.

All this energy would be better helping the already unwanted homeless.

Many years ago you would not find a bloke dead talking about such things even with his mates about a personal involvment.

Somehow it was nicer that way.

Womans bodies are not there for every Tom Dick and Bloke to disuss , screw this so called new age it stinks.

Some things have gone too far , just like those dam womens hygine adds for ladies shown at prime time.

Give me a break.

I wonder who came up with making that pubic for god sake and why do we ladies put up with it.

Its demeaning and very private just the same as it to decide if u will go to the chemist and get these pills, or pill.

It really is not up to even another woman to tell another woman what to do with her own body let alone a strange man.

Get a life u weired blokes.

Ladies as u wish however to continue these very public converations will only feed these so called mens ovious problems.

I challage the wisdom and intentions of the aurthor of this post as well.

Hey There the votes been had.

The Australian People have spoken and thank God realise it iS the ladies PERSONAL choice.

Note I said WOMENS!

Hey Wendy, I appreciate your gutsy posts, and your points about women’s privacy are well taken.

I don’t believe that women’s rights to decide how they use their own bodies should be up for grabs, and I am conscious of how hard won (and recently) this fundamental value is. I haven’t seen too many posters down this end of this discussion who would challenge this.

I'm conscious of the sensitivities of many women on this issue given the forces which would deny women's autonomy over their own lives.

But I think it’s shortsighted to leave men out of the picture. I work mainly with teenaged boys whose startling fertility is matched in many cases with a depressing lack of capacity for coming to grips with what is involved in choices about parenting – continuing a pattern many have grown up with. Many don't even know where to begin.

Robert E’s experience with similar kids in the States that “the father is almost never an asset to the child's life” sadly reflects the experience of many of the kids I work with, and my guess will also reflect the futures of a lot of them with their own offspring.

I reckon this is a serious problem, and we have to find a way to break what is becoming a cyclical pattern. Further alienating males from responsibility for, and investment in, discussions around parenting and reproductive choices is not the solution.

Celivia, Scout is a female no 1. and I dont think that I can get much more out of this discussion anyway.

It is clear certain posters have their agendas and has not a lot to do with heartfelt opinion.And I feel there is no place for that in this very important discussion,( that does not include wendy)..even though we didnt see eye to eye when I 1st posted it is clear that at least she does stand by her convictions and that is admirable, and I see theres not a lot of that on here.(standing by ones convictions i mean)..a lot of agreeing for the sake of not wanting to usurp anyone.

Guys

Celivia would have to be my favouite poster but even she thinks its

a good idea for men to get down and gritty talking about womens biz.

no Dear Keep them in their place.

We will say how many babies we wish to have and when.

I am delighted to have made contact with you off the post.


To the men I just want to go slap, mind your own business you creeps[smile]

One day I hope they find a way for the men to give birth then I will be back with bells on AS A WOMAN telling them they MUST give birth.

I look forward to that.

Then lets see how they handle it.

Snout I get what you are saying but the young boys would be best taught about boys things, like not getting a girl pregnant in the first place.

They like talking about sex so there is the chance to teach them how not to get a girl in trouble and the results if they do.
.
These boys need to know there is worse than this pill and its called maintance for the rest of their lives because some young women get pregnant on purpose.

Thats a big call for a 16 or 18 year old boy. Too Big and enough to reck their lives/

Maybe they are the ones who should be handed out this drug to keep in their back pocket.

Possibly someone could make a man pill for them to take before they have sex/ Now theres a thought.!


Ozgirl thanks for your posts. Keep the studies up and be careful what you watch on Teli[just kidding] feel free to contact me through here. You too Snout.[cool name]

www.livexports.com

I guess your correct there doesnt seem to be much use in us just going on and on about what we think does there.

Hey its been fun mixing it with you girls and I hope to see you on another page sometime.

note I said Girls!

And to all you cross dressing men out there.

Break A leg guys