As a woman, I have the right to choose to not be a parent. Men deserve the same right.
I am a 22 year old woman. I attend college and work nearly full time. I am married. I am not ready to be a mother. I have many options to keep me from being a mother until I am ready. Currently I am on birth control pills. I want to finish school and get a better job. I want my husband to persue his dreams. I want to be a more financially stable before bringing another person into this world. I have that choice.
My sister is 18. She doesn't want to be a parent yet. She is currently abstaining from sex and plans to go on birth control when she is ready for sex. She has that choice.
My husband has a son. He's seen him 3 times. The last time was over a year and a half ago. He was excited about being a father, at first. Then he realized all of the responsiblility involved. He wasn't ready to be a father and still isn't. He didn't have a choice. He pays child support since it was court ordered. We are now struggling with our bills, and can't afford to pay the full amount of child support each month. We pay as much as we can.
The Department of Social Services keeps sending us letters stating that if my husband doesn't pay the full amount due, they will garnish his wages, revoke his driver's license, take our tax refund, and might send him to jail.
These are harassing letters. We are paying what we can and yet they send threatening letters to our house. This is another reason why I am glad I can choose to not be a mother until I want to be.
My husband derserves the right to opt out of fatherhood. He wasn't ready. Men deserve the right to opt out of fatherhood. Our country preaches equality. Women have the right to be or not be parents. Therefore, that right belongs to men, also.
Support men's right to opt out of parenthood if they choose, without the consequences of child support. Women have that right. Men deserve that right.
