A Man's Right to Choose?

When it comes to being pro-choice, the key operative term is well, "choice." But typically, this is related to a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body if she should find herself with an unwanted pregnancy. This week, however, it has been reported that Ohio lawmakers are trying to turn the tables on that argument and introduce, a bill "requiring paternal consent before an abortion may be performed."

While I understand that men may want to know if they've impregnated a woman - by placing the control about whether a woman can have an abortion, essentially leaves very little choice in the hands of the person who will ultimately give birth to the child. Therefore, in this instance, a man's right to choose, leaves women no choice at all.

Jessica Valenti over at Feministing highlights the rather stunning parts of the bill:

Written notes? Submitting a list of potential fathers? Sometimes I think that anti-choice folks forget that women are, you know, adults.

But seriously here's the best part of the bill:

"Claiming to not know the father's identity is not a viable excuse,"according to the proposed legislation. Simply put: no father means no abortion.Fuck. You.

But wait, it gets even better. Women would be required to present a police report if they want to "prove" that the pregnancy was a result of rape of incest. Because women can't be trusted, obviously.

The bill goes to the extreme by not only trying to legislate what a "viable fetus" is but also make anyone who "violates this section is guilty of abortion fraud, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the person previously has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of a violation of this section, abortion fraud is a felony of the fifth degree."

Why not just write the words "baby killer" into the text of the bill and be done with it? Good grief.

This disturbing legislation comes at the heels of the more positive announcement about the re-introduction of the Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act, introduced by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn). This bill, unlike the one in Ohio, gives support where it's really needed: to improve access to contraception, support teen pregnancy prevention efforts, and ensure that women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term are given the options and resources necessary to guarantee a healthy pregnancy.

Hopefully this bill, put before Congress, will enlighten those around the country who continue to try to legislate against, rather than for, women's reproductive choice options.