One of the voting topics I was presented with dealt with abortion and whether or not they should be notified 48 hours prior to the procedure that their minor is having an abortion.
I personally could see both sides working out.
If it isn't passed that parents should know then the current law, which is that minors 15 and older can retain their privacy.
I like the idea of having a choice in whether or not someone tells their parents. But then, I am hoping they share the news with their parents.
I do also feel if it is their child the parent should know, I would as a parent want to know. But then I would want my child to come and tell me on their own.
I am not saying whether abortion is right or wrong, I just feel if someone takes that route having a choice would be good.
I also think it is extreme to me to hear of laws like this, I wouldn't expect this to be common enough to make laws for, but I guess younger and younger girls are being exposed to sex in today's society (or being harmed unfortuately).
I never thought there was an issue with parent's knowledge and privacy before now.
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I think that if I was in that situtation that I would want to tell my parents now rather than in many years. I would want to tell them before I was too upset to talk about it. I dont know what to think about them telling the parents 48 hours in advanced. I think I would rather tell my parents than the doctors. My parents would be really upset that I wouldnt tell them. I think they would be angry about that.
Say yes to Prop 85.
"You are narrow-minded because you disagree with me."
This legislation allows parents who oppose abortion to make decisions that will destroy their child's life into their thirties--probably forcing them out of high school and almost definitely out of college.
People often forget that not every parent "just wants to know what is going on with their child." Many will learn that their daughter is pregnant, call her a worthless slut and kick her out.
While it is true that teens make the decisions that get them pregnant, it isn't very pragmatic to go out of our way to make life worse for them. It's hard to heal from your parents calling you a demon child when you're fifteen with a baby.
This legislation would only make things easier for those parents. It won't deter these kids from having sex--seriously, most of them won't know it was passed in the first place until they're stuck.
this law stems from child delinquency laws and 'status offenses' that were mostly intended for females. A status offense was staying out too late or having premarital sex with someone the family thought was not suitable, or running away from home.
See, it's ok for boys to do these things. because of a societal view of what responsibilities females have, they're not allowed to be 'wild teenagers'.
these abortion laws are the status offenses of yore. It tries to keep a teenage girl controlled and in the realm of her family whereas teenage males do not need to be controlled.
we still frown on girls having sex, but it's ok for boys. Hence the double standard.
I think it would be one of the worst things possible to make someone already in that horrible predicament to have to tell their parent. That's added pressure and fear and anxiety that is absolutely unnecessary.
And then what is the parent supposed to do? If they say no- well... And if they say yes?! If I were a parent and my daughter said she was going to have an abortion- I don't know how the hell I would react. Having a child in high school is difficult and nearly impossible. So I could understand the reasoning. But what kind of parent would want to agree that their child have an abortion?!
It's just easier to leave it as it is and if the child wants to say anything- it's their choice. Just like abortion was/is.
I think its terrible that some kids dont have a good enough relationship with their parents to tell them that. Going through something that is an enormus deal! Someone who is that young ...first off, they are to young to have a kid. Well then your also way to young to have an abortion on your own and not have the support of someone who really loves you.
...but I have a real problem with the idea of major, life-influencing decisions being made between a minor and the state without the inclusion of that minor's legal guardians.
Personally, I think that the decision to have an abortion is no different that ANY OTHER medical decision that involves a minor. The parents have a right to make medical decisions for their childrent, regardless of the outcome for the future of the child. This is the same rationale that permits parents with certain religious beliefs to deny medical treatment that contradicts their beliefs. I see no difference, here.
Of course on the other hand, I also think that if a minor child becomes pregnant, it is the adult guardians of that child who are (or should be) responsible for the life of the new baby. That is the other side of the burden of being a legal guardian. If you are saying that you have the right to make choices for your minor charges, then it logically falls to you to accept the full burden of the consequences of those decisions as well.
percivale
I agree with you fully percivale.
What makes this different than any other medical procedure?
A school can't give an aspirin to a child without parental consent but it's okay for an abortion?
A child becoming pregnant is a tragedy and that child's parents should be the first to know. They are the ones who will have to deal with the implications and consequences no matter which path they choose. They have the right to know since they are legally responsible for their child until she is 18.
I'm sick of the pro-choice movement trying to make it easier and easier for an abortion, anytime, anywhere, for whatever reason. if young people had to deal with the consequences of their actions maybe they would start to change their behavior.
I agree that parents should be involved in their child's decision to have an abortion, as they are in any medical situation. But to say that young people have to start changing their behavior to deal with the consequences of their actions is a bit of an attack on anybody who finds them in the unfortunate situation of needing an abortion. People only see the sluttieness of teenage girls these days when they oppose abortion. If you think there is need for change, then you are equally as responsible as these teenage girls to make the change happen. It is society that causes the problem. Maybe if sex weren't portrayed as so casual and allright on MTV and other places there wouldn't be so much underage sex. Personally, I think there is a reason why people are getting pregnant....society's expectations! What kids see and hear everywhere they go. Temptation!
Read My Blog!
Despite what many believe in most cases a parent doesn't go crazy and kick their daughter out if she is pregnant. Although most parents don't want their daughters having premarital sex they probably have an idea if it is happening. When a parent gets involved they can't force their daughter to have an abortion or to keep the baby but they can give her options. Some parents are willing to help raise a baby while others might discuss adoption. I know women who cry themselves to sleep at night because they can't have a baby and would love to raise one from another mother.
I have two friends who have had abortions because they thought there was no other way and are now haunted by their decision.
There is so much to consider that having someone older and wiser (they get smarter the older you get) is a good idea. Although in the end the choice is hers.
well, fortunately i'm no longer a minor, but the idea that there could be a law demanding parental notification kind of scares me. it's not that i don't think the argument for it isn't valid, it's mostly stemming from my own personal experience with the situation...no, i've never been pregnant or had to decide whether or not to get an abortion...but i know if i were in that situation, my parents would be, shall we say, less than supportive. they wouldn't call me a demon child and kick me out of the house, certainly, but there are people whose parents would do that. i don't see that kind of argument happening over a flu shot or some aspirin, do you?
--stacie
I don't think a law requiring parents to be notified of their daughter's abortion (upwards of 15 years of age) would be helpful in any circumstance. There are many teenage girls whose parents would make the decision for her, which I don't feel they have a right to do. Take it this way, if a girl is going to have a baby, she'll have to tell her parents. I mean, they'll find out either way right? The laws protecting teenage girls allow them to have an abortion if their parents are against it so they don't have to face any punishment in the family. It also protects girls who are from abusive homes where she could be in physical danger if she becomes pregnant. It's a woman's choice, and although I'd love to see teenage girls practicing safe sex and never having to deal with the issue of abortion, I would never want their privacy or their freedom to be taken away.
I think the best measure against teenage pregnancy is easy and free access to birth control, condoms, and reproductive health centers. My high school had a system where you could go to the nurse and sign out in order to go to a free clinic in the next town to have a pap smear, get condoms or birth control, be tested for STDs, etc. and you would bring back a doctor's note and sign back into school. If your parents called the school would say you were in a meeting or some other excuse and that they would contact them when you got back out. This way, parents could never find out and those teenage girls could practice safe sex.
-JP
I like your school's system. More should do that.
My personal opinion is that parents should be the only ones that allow their child to have an abortion. My Dad and I actually got on this subject that if I ever got pregnant, that he would make me have the baby and put it up for adoption (that was when I was under 18 of course). I'm not going to say I'm against or for it, but I do believe that parents should decide upon it. Now, if the individual is 18 or older...then that's a little bit different.
(([Deim Brown]*THINK-BIG*))
I DONT BELIEVE THAT MINORS, OR ANY WOMAN FOR THAT MATTER IS ABLE TO HANDLE THE EMOTIONAL AFTERMATH OF AN ABORTION ALONE, THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES WHERE, PARENTS MIGHT ACTUALLY ADD MORE STRESS AND CHAOS TO THE ALREADY FRAGILE SITUATION, BUT i THINK FOR THE MOST PART, CHILDREN WOULD STILL NEED THE HELP OF THEIR PARENTS IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS!!