“…when a woman produces male hormones”

[ 7 ] October 24, 2012 AD |

I have heard the defense many times and it ends conversations.

 

“Men can speak about abortion when they get a uterus.”

© photo-corona – Fotolia.com

 

At first, this statement may get a pro-life male to quietly leave a dialogue not knowing exactly what to say because they do not have a uterus.  Apparently, only the presence of a uterus can qualify a person to speak on moral issues like abortion.

 

However, this is a silly argument. 

 

Let’s turn the tables a bit.  What if I thought beating women was possibly a good action?  I would expect that nearly every woman would be up in arms wanting my head on a platter.  Of course, I really do know that beating women is a horrible sin and crime.  But let’s just create a hypothetical.

 

If I thought men should beat women, a woman could respond, “Hey, that is horrible.”  Using the above logic of not being able to speak about abortion unless I have a uterus, I would respond, “Your opinion is worthless until you can produce male hormones.”

 

That response would also be silly because the presence of male hormones is not a prerequisite of knowing the moral law just like knowing the immorality of abortion does not require possessing a uterus.  The use of this argument may be a great way to convince yourself of victory by using a logical fallacy, but it doesn’t really prove anything.  Besides, I suspect many mammals have a uterus and we are not asking Minnie Mouse, Faline, or Miss Bunny if abortion is right or wrong.

 

What logical fallacies are you hearing about abortion?  What are some of the responses that are giving you difficulty?

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Category: Men's Issues, Uncategorized, Women's Issues

About the Author ()

J.Q. lives in the country of Texas with his wife Denise, a Southern Belle from Trinidad and Tobago, and his three children. He holds two graduate degrees from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, an MBA and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Having taught for five years in Catholic education, he now works in the construction industry in Victoria, TX. He is a parishioner of Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Parish in the Diocese of Victoria.
  • http://www.almostnotcatholic.com/ Brent Stubbs

    The “having a uterus” argument turns on a false premise: that abortion is about a woman’s body. However, abortion is not about a woman’s body. Abortion is about a baby’s body. Last time I checked, men have bodies too.

    • http://www.arleenspenceley.com Arleen Spenceley

      #boom. :) Great way to put it, Brent.

  • Molly

    I find it ridiculous that we shame the men and boys who chose to abandon their children and their children’s mothers and then act surprised that they feel no responsibility toward these women and their shared children when “we” (non pro-life society that is) tell them that they have no say from the very beginning.

    I think it’s an insult to men to say “From conception until birth you are really nothing more than a glorified sperm donor.” No wonder so many young men, already lacking guidance and good moral examples, run away overwhelmed and in fear a when they are told that for 9 months the are not a father only to have it suddenly thrust into their arms. How does that encourage them to plan and prepare and ease into the idea and reality of fatherhood?

    Really how is it different from a doctor telling a mother “I want to abort this child and you can have a say about your “fetus” when you’ve earn a PhD.”

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  • Elizabeth

    My husband and I were always so sad to see husbands and boyfriends BEGGING the mother of their child not to abort when we went to pray at the local clinic. It was a pretty common occurrence and absolutely heartbreaking.

  • Sarah B.

    What’s really amusing is that all women DO possess small amounts of testosterone in their bodies, and all men DO possess small amounts of estrogen in their bodies. So, there ya go. Let’s get past hormones because they are a red herring.

  • http://www.arleenspenceley.com Arleen Spenceley

    Great points and great post, JQ!

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