horton@harvard.ARPA (Nike Horton) (03/19/85)
"In an ideal society, no doubt, birth control would become
the concern of the man as well as the woman. The hard,
unescapable fact which we encounter today is that man has not
only refused any such responsibility, but has individually and
collectively sought to prevent woman from obtaining knowledge by
which she could assume this responsibility for herself."
Margaret Sanger, *Woman and the New Race*, 1920
While perhaps the latter has changed, it seems from the previous
discussion that for the most part, the former is still valid.
--
Nicholas Horton System Manager
Cambridge, MA Aiken Computation Lab
UUCP: {genrad,cbosgd}!wjh12!horton
{seismo,ihnp4,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard!horton
ARPA: horton@harvard BITNET: HARVUNXH%HORTONzubbie@wlcrjs.UUCP (Jeanette Zobjeck) (03/22/85)
In article <496@harvard.ARPA> horton@harvard.ARPA (Nike Horton) writes: > > "In an ideal society, no doubt, birth control would become > the concern of the man as well as the woman. The hard, > unescapable fact which we encounter today is that man has not > only refused any such responsibility, but has individually and > collectively sought to prevent woman from obtaining knowledge by > which she could assume this responsibility for herself." > > Margaret Sanger, *Woman and the New Race*, 1920 > > >While perhaps the latter has changed, it seems from the previous >discussion that for the most part, the former is still valid. >-- >Nicholas Horton System Manager >Cambridge, MA Aiken Computation Lab >UUCP: {genrad,cbosgd}!wjh12!horton > {seismo,ihnp4,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard!horton >ARPA: horton@harvard BITNET: HARVUNXH%HORTON The thought has not gone unnoticed but what is suprising to me or perhaps it shouldnot be, are the factions who have not made too much of the aspect with regard to birth control etc. It is my body and it is therefore my responsibility if I end up pregnant but once I am pregnant then the discussion seems to taper off (no flames re abortion please). The women of today have taken a greater initiative than our mothers in this regard but essentially we are still at the mercy of the concept that if there is any birth control to be used it should be the woman's responsibility. This is hogwash and the sooner we can get society to admit that it takes two people to make children and so both parties (read sexes if you will) have a vital and ongoing need to share that responsibility. Without that sharing women will never really ever be equal. The usual cop-out by the way is that it is easier and more spontanaity (sp) can be acheived if the woman takes care of such things. I am not sure where that notion got started but I would guess that it might have arisen after women began attempting to have some control over the matter. Men simply had to say, "OK Little Girl - Go Ahead and see to it so that we can be free to do as we please (as males that meant a liscence to play ). ====================================================================== Some one said a penny for your thoughts since these are my opinions I will make change for that penny only jeanette zobjeck wlcrjs! ihnp4!< >zubbie ihlpa!
oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold) (03/30/85)
Previous comments on condoms in wallets, douches as "birth control in movies" and a few other peccadillos convince me that people (men in particular) aren't always rock-solid in how they approach the subject. Since women carry all the biological risks ((risk of) pregnancy vs. side effects of birth control) THEY should decide which set of risks they like best. [Side issue: I wouldn't object if my partner specified that that meant I supply condoms, or a specific variety of condoms. If a vasectomy were the issue that might require further discussion...] I guess that works out to a gratuitous suggestion that women make a point of taking care of things themselves, however they decide to do it. If a woman is sexually active it makes sense for her to have ultimate control over her fertility. I don't know what that says about moral responsibility or any other ethical question, nor who wants a license to play (in response to Jeannette Zobjeck). That suggestion is orthogonal to spontaneity or anything else. One other orthogonal issue In my humble opinion, Margaret Sanger was a wonderful person. So was John Rock, even if the pill turns out to be the wrong thing. (Why wasn't it cathartic to write this?) Oded Feingold UUCP: mitvax!oaf MIT AI Lab Arpa: oaf%oz@mit-mc.ARPA 545 Tech Sq. AT&T: 617-253-8598 work Cambridge, Mass. 02139 617-371-1796 home (and answering machine) -- Oded Feingold UUCP: mitvax!oaf MIT AI Lab Arpa: oaf%oz@mit-mc.ARPA 545 Tech Sq. AT&T: 617-253-8598 work Cambridge, Mass. 02139 617-371-1796 home (and answering machine)
susan@vaxwaller.UUCP (Susan Finkelman) (04/03/85)
> Previous comments on condoms in wallets, douches as "birth control in > movies" and a few other peccadillos convince me that people (men in > particular) aren't always rock-solid in how they approach the subject. > Since women carry all the biological risks ((risk of) pregnancy vs. side > effects of birth control) THEY should decide which set of risks they > like best. [Side issue: I wouldn't object if my partner specified that > that meant I supply condoms, or a specific variety of condoms. If a > vasectomy were the issue that might require further discussion...] > > I guess that works out to a gratuitous suggestion that women make a > point of taking care of things themselves, however they decide to do it. > If a woman is sexually active it makes sense for her to have ultimate > control over her fertility. I don't know what that says about moral > responsibility or any other ethical question, nor who wants a license to > play (in response to Jeannette Zobjeck). That suggestion is orthogonal > to spontaneity or anything else. > > -- > Oded Feingold UUCP: mitvax!oaf > MIT AI Lab Arpa: oaf%oz@mit-mc.ARPA > 545 Tech Sq. AT&T: 617-253-8598 work > Cambridge, Mass. 02139 617-371-1796 home (and answering machine) Men are not excused, legally or morally, from the care of a child which they've fathered (a major biological risk of pregnancy) Susan Finkelman (415) 945-2274 Varian Instruments, 2700 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca. 94598 {zehntel,amd,fortune,resonex,rtech}!varian!susan