By Elliot Millner on Jul 9th 2010 5:02PM
Filed under: Personal Finance, News
A
recent article featured on The Root focuses on a controversial alternative to the traditional methods used to enforce parental responsibility in this country. In a proposal by Brown University professor, Frances Goldscheider, a "financial abortion" would allow a man who makes it known to his partner prior to sex that he does not want to be a father to void all responsibility for any pregnancy that results from subsequent sexual activity. This means that at no point would that man be liable for financially supporting any children that he produced.
Ideally, all fathers would be present in their children's lives and also provide for them financially; however, reality tells us that this is not always the case. Many men who want to provide financially for their children, simply aren't able to. This of course disproportionately harms working class black men, who are impacted heavily when they are unable to make court-orders support payments. Is offering these men the option of a "financial abortion" the solution?
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The Root outlines Professor Frances Goldscheider's position:
If it were law, a financial abortion would allow a man -- one who has specifically said to his partner before intercourse that he doesn't want to be a father -- to void all monetary responsibility for any pregnancy. Without question, the woman could carry the child to term, but she and the law could then never come looking for the dad for child support. It sounds harsh -- so much so that Goldscheider admits it will probably never be more than a dream theory -- but proponents believe that such a policy could very well make a huge dent in the nation's scourge of absentee fathers, especially in the African-American community.
"I think it would primarily benefit men who do not want to be fathers," Goldscheider says, "and that's mostly those who are not ready, whether financially or whatever. And given the structure of inequality in this country, it should disproportionately benefit young black men."
Not all academics agree with such a drastic measure. But there is some consensus that there's got to be a better way, particularly for lower-income fathers.
I personally do not agree with this idea. Regardless of the barriers in place that may prevent lower-income men from providing financially for their children, the solution to that is not to release them from their financial obligations to the children they produce. Despite what is stated in the article, there are certain requirements for being a father that should be enforced, regardless of socioeconomic status. The present child support system is in need of reform, I have no doubt about that. However, that reform should not include letting any man off the hook for any part of his fatherly responsibilities.
This proposal seems to be another in a long line of ideas targeting black people, which seek to hold us to a lower standard than others, as though we are incapable of meeting normal standards of behavior, regardless of whatever obstacles are placed in our path. Providing for our children is not some "middle-class" or white ideal that has been forced on us, it is part of the foundation of being a father. We have years of evidence proving that black men in the most dire of economic situations can and will make sure their children are provided for. We do not need to lower the bar of fatherhood because many choose not to, or want to and are incapable of being providers for their children.
Fatherhood is not solely based on financial support, and there do need to be adjustments to the child support system regarding the way men who want to be involved in their children's lives are valued. But, removing the financial obligation of fatherhood is not one of them.
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Comments: (39)
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By: trinagirl on 7/10/2010 1:25PM
I think that a man should use protection at all times if he does not the responsibility of a child or not sleep with a woman that he does not want to be the mother of his children.
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By: emily on 7/10/2010 11:35PM
this is so true if u dont want kids with a woman u sleeping with protect ur self and the woman should do the same and this should go only for black men they all do the same thing
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By: Justyfied on 7/11/2010 11:42PM
I agree, how about 'opting' not to have a sexual relationship, until you can handle the responsibility that goes along with it. Try being celibate, because is less complicated.
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By: john on 7/14/2010 10:58PM
both men and women should be under the same rights of being able to op-out of being a forced parent. Currently, women have abortion, adoption, abandonment, SIDS-excuse killing, and late-term abortion to avoid Womaning-up to their responsibilities. Men have nothing. Since women have the right to kill off any child and claim Post-partum depression for the killing and avoid prison, men should have up to the cutoff of PPD to decide whether he wants to be held responsible for a child/ren he did not want. This balances off the gross imbalance that women enjoy over men and it puts women on notice that men have powerful and equal rights as them when it comes to being a parent. Women will have to exercise the same rules of relationship as men--protect yourself against pregnancy or be a forced single parent be choice without funds from a father signing over his rights. Do women want to be forced into motherhood with the elimination of all of the previously listed rights--No. women enjoy being able to put men under their control, but hate if put under man's control--I say put both under the same rules where both have the right to not be forced parents. Look at child custody that give the children automatically to the mothers in divorce--nearly 100%, with nearly 100% of men are inept and stupid, and dangerous--women with mental illness, etc. are not subject to proving they are good and dependable parents. The life conditions and death of children under the control of their mothers are acceptable under current societal norms and laws.
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By: wha-up on 7/09/2010 7:54PM
yeah letum opt out under the condition that they get their lil cords cut so they can not do this to another woman and help slow this trend.
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By: hisuga on 7/09/2010 6:13PM
Hell no. Why is this article targeted to just black men. There is just as many white men that this article applies to as well. Can mothers opt out of motherhood? This has got to be the stupid article, I have ever read!
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By: huge_bullbone on 7/12/2010 9:53AM
Interestingly the originator of this idea is from "Brown" univesity. Very elitist and racist. Hmmmmmm. ALL men and women should be allowed to "opt" out of whatever results from sexual intercourse -- if its poosyble AND they elect to do so -- Period [no pun intended}. You ask: "Can women opt out of motherhood?" The answer is simple -- HELL YES! It is called an abortion. It is her body, the fetus is considered to be a part thereof [at least during the first trimester], and she can legally get rid of it. There is no such post copulation alternative for the man. Oops, gotcha. For those who say: "Don't screw the woman if you don't want to have a baby by her". To that I say this -- women actually get horny too [duh] and if you don't screw them you are in more trouble reputation wise for not doing it to them than you can imagine. They will tell their sistah posse friends that you are gay or tell some other lies. Anything but the truth. Don't think women don't lie. Have no fear fellas. If you don't screw her/them, someone else CAN and she will see to it that they WILL. Watch Maury Povich of TV fame and see the brothas dance and the cockgaysian guys cry. The absolute safe way out of 18 years of emotional, legal, and financial H-E-L-L is to abstain COMPLETELY. Otherwise, use at least one condom. If she is a hood rat [either for real or sididdy under cover] use two condoms and wear a tight rubber scuba diver's wet suit and mask. Also, one-sided Bill Clintonesque oral sex {"I did not have s-e-x with that woman"] is an extremely useful "emergency" alternative. I say "one-sided" because what man wants a terrible sore throat, or sores on their lips, or breath that smells like the dumpster behind a seafood restaurant the day before garbage pickup day? I don't.
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By: Mz A on 7/12/2010 2:28PM
OMG I so agree, I wrote the same thing when my friend posted this on Facebook!!! People should use protection, or het on birth control, This was just to rediculous. And there are just as many other races or more that have "poor" men or just men who dont want to take care of their children!! Shame on the people who say this is ok!!!
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By: tljames on 7/10/2010 9:38AM
They should 'opt out' of fatherhood by not having sex with women who are dying to have kids. Self control and birth control are key here. This is a no brainer.
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By: hisuga on 7/09/2010 6:30PM
ADMR, Don't believe the stats!!! Where are you getting these numbers?
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