Family Planning and Parenthood

For me this chapter was difficult to read. The topics discussed here are the ones I have frequently tried to avoid. I hate hearing about the growing number of STDs and the fact that some people don't even know they are affected. Furthermore, this chapter brings up highly debatable topics like abortion. This is an issue that I choose not to offer my opinion because for many it is an emotional trigger whether for or against. I wish to only offer another thing to think about with regards to abortion that I never considered before. This class has emphasized the importance of communicating with your partner. I have been with my boyfriend for over two years and the discussion of abortion has come up. When discussing this we talked about religious views, family reactions, psychological effects, as well as women's rights. However, I was surprized when speaking about women's rights my boyfriend brought up the idea that as a male he has no say in an abortion. He talked about how he could be with a woman and she doesn't even have to tell him she is pregnant and can get an abortion without even discussing it with him. I never even considered I guess what you would call, the men's rights as a potential father. I wonder if other males have questioned this idea either. I am not trying to say that a man should be able to force a woman to get or not get an abortion, but I am just trying to offer something else to consider.