As you know, I have strong feelings about birth control. It would be my wish that girls and women all over the world get pregnant for one reason only. Because they want to.
And now this morning's paper announces that teen births hit record lows in the U.S. again this year. This is a downward trend that's been happening since the late 50s. In fact, fewer babies were born to teens in 2010 than in any year since 1946. So congrats to all of you young women who are delaying having sex and then acting responsibly when you do.
But we have a ways to go because, even with this record, we still have one of the highest rates of teen births in the first world countries.
Over the centuries the concept has been that getting pregnant is the consequence (or some might say the punishment) for having sex - and needs to stay that way. Unfortunately, most times, the worst punishment to come out of having unwanted babies is to the babies.
This week's New Yorker has a thought provoking article (with a thought provoking title) by Elizabeth Kolbert called The Case Against Kids - Is Procreation Immoral?
We - and when I say "we" I mean "I" - tend to think it's mostly men who've wanted to keep us barefoot and pregnant but Kolbert's article tells us that men have also been at the forefront of new ideas.
Charles Knowlton, in 1832 wrote a little book called "Fruits of Philosophy." In it he put forward the idea that the "reproductive instinct need not actually lead to reproduction" and he suggested some primitive (and uncomfortable) ideas for birth control. Of course, Knowlton was thrown in prison for his writings - both in the states and in England.
But "Fruits of Philosophy" has been credited with changing the course of history. Knowlton spread the word that, instead of being a consequence of sex, children can be a choice.
Christine Overall has written a book called "Why Have Children?" Here are some of the reasons we have them and her responses:
David Benetar, professor at the University of Cape Town believes that "humans have the unfortunate distinction of being the most destructive and harmful species on earth." I guess he thinks we all need to get out of here.
I know ethics need to play a part in every decision we make but I still believe that allowing and encouraging girls and women around the globe to get pregnant only when they choose to is a good start.
***
And now this morning's paper announces that teen births hit record lows in the U.S. again this year. This is a downward trend that's been happening since the late 50s. In fact, fewer babies were born to teens in 2010 than in any year since 1946. So congrats to all of you young women who are delaying having sex and then acting responsibly when you do.
But we have a ways to go because, even with this record, we still have one of the highest rates of teen births in the first world countries.
Over the centuries the concept has been that getting pregnant is the consequence (or some might say the punishment) for having sex - and needs to stay that way. Unfortunately, most times, the worst punishment to come out of having unwanted babies is to the babies.
This week's New Yorker has a thought provoking article (with a thought provoking title) by Elizabeth Kolbert called The Case Against Kids - Is Procreation Immoral?
We - and when I say "we" I mean "I" - tend to think it's mostly men who've wanted to keep us barefoot and pregnant but Kolbert's article tells us that men have also been at the forefront of new ideas.
Charles Knowlton, in 1832 wrote a little book called "Fruits of Philosophy." In it he put forward the idea that the "reproductive instinct need not actually lead to reproduction" and he suggested some primitive (and uncomfortable) ideas for birth control. Of course, Knowlton was thrown in prison for his writings - both in the states and in England.
But "Fruits of Philosophy" has been credited with changing the course of history. Knowlton spread the word that, instead of being a consequence of sex, children can be a choice.
Christine Overall has written a book called "Why Have Children?" Here are some of the reasons we have them and her responses:
- Childbearing is natural - Should we satisfy all of our natural urges?
- Childbearing benefits the child - Nonexistent people have no moral standing.
- Childbearing makes the world happy - How do you know when to stop?
- Childbearing perpetuates a family name - Is ego a good reason?
- Childbearing gives us someone to care for us in our old age - Really?
- Childbearing will make us happy - Research shows that people who have children are no more satisfied with their lives than people who don't.
David Benetar, professor at the University of Cape Town believes that "humans have the unfortunate distinction of being the most destructive and harmful species on earth." I guess he thinks we all need to get out of here.
I know ethics need to play a part in every decision we make but I still believe that allowing and encouraging girls and women around the globe to get pregnant only when they choose to is a good start.
***
