Do parents really have a right to know? What is it about being a parent that allows you to control every move and decision your child makes? It's not like abortion is illegal (I don't want to hear the argument about if the parent being held responsible if a minor engages in illegal activity - which I don't think is necessarily true). Aren't teens people? I know they're not legal adults, and many if not most or all of them have growing up to do. But why can't they at least have autonomy over their body? Why do parents get to control that? Isn't that weird or wrong to anyone? I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I really don't understand. The pregnant girl/woman is ultimately the person who has to live with the decision that is made, so why can't she make it without interference?
Anyone want to bet this person does not have children?
The reason why parents are notified about their children's doings is twofold:
1) Parents are in charge of their child's well-being.
2) Adolescents do not have the knowledge, wisdom, maturity or experience to make a decision about abortion.
Many people like to imagine that children under the age of 18 are mature. We thought of ourselves as mature when we were children, right?
So why wouldn't we allow our own children the courtesy?
Because the reality is: they are not.
Teens do not have the foresight to know what will happen if they take one decision or another. They are often impulsive. Their knowledge of the world is imperfect and often subject to superficial standards.
That's why they have parents: to fill the gaps and ultimately make decisions for their kids, or approve of the ones the kids have made.
Since parents are in charge of their child's well-being, they have the right to know EVERYTHING about their child's life. That doesn't mean some privacy is not in order. But if a kid is not on the right path, a parent has a right to intervene.
Let's play devil's advocate and suppose I am a parent who supports legal abortion, and my teenager becomes pregnant.
Why would I want to be informed of my daughter's impending abortion?
Because I want to have the conversation about the pregnancy and conception!
Perhaps she doesn't really want an abortion, but she feels pressured.
*What about her sexual activity? Was it with a steady boyfriend, a one-nighter or was she maybe even raped? Was she drunk or sober? (I.E. should I discourage or even prohibit her from consuming alcoholic beverages?) Was she using contraception? Did she want to use contraception? What about her boyfriend? Was he pressuring her to have sex? If I don't know the dad: who is this guy, and how did she meet him, and (if he's a shady) how did you end up with such a loser?
See, if a girl has an abortion, it's because her life, in some sense, ran into the ditch.
You as the person in charge of your child's well-being, NEED to know that-- whether you support legal abortion or not.
And because you, as the parent, know what is best for your child, you should consent to any medical procedure.
But wait, feminists demand: what about the so-called forced pregnancy aspect?
The answer is that if feminists want to treat abortion as a medical procedure, then they have to apply the same rules.
But the truth is, abortion is not a true medical procedure. It does not heal or treat any condition. If it were, it would not be so controversial. No parent wants their kid to be sick.
It's simply a procedure in response to personal problems.
Operations don't and shouldn't be used to treat personal problems. A physical problem requires a physical solution. A psychological problem requires a psychological solution.
A social problem requires a social solution.
