Reply #94: My brother and sister-in-law just celebrated their 25th anniversary [View All]

they were married when she was 17 and still in high school. She went to school only to be told she had to have her husband's permission (because of her age) to withdraw or to continue - since he was now "responsible for her" - this was in the 80's.

This isn't about just abortion but about the attitude - the 100% hardcore misogynistic attitude that women are somehow less - and can't make decisions about their lives without some man giving his consent. However, abortion is directly related to that patriarchal attitude. Opportunities for women are directly related to that same patriarchal attitude.

Much like white privilege, where just by having white skin gives a person an advantage in a racist society, having a penis gives men an advantage in a patriarchal society. Men, regardless of their views on abortion or women, have benefited from sexism. They earn more on the whole - simply because they are men. They get insurance perks for viagra and such, simply because they are men. They had and have access to high paying jobs, simply because they are men.

No one would question a man looking for work in a mine - but let a woman try and she's laughed at and ridiculed.

Sure, there are jobs where men get laughed at by other men - but that's also the fault of a patriarchal society. The stereotypes of "woman's work" is because the patriarchal society forced those roles - it created those stereotypes.

Your post got me to thinking of the total issue. How abortion isn't just about a medical procedure ...but how it encompasses the entire sexist/patriarchal attitudes directed at women.