Men and Accountability
by Jim Hewes
Historically, the majority of people behind the population control and eugenics movements were men. The Supreme Court justices who voted in favor of Roe v. Wade, to legalize abortion, were men. Most abortion doctors have been men, and many abortion facilities have been owned by men. In the early days, it was men who aggressively pushed for abortion “rights.”
Power Dynamics and Gender Responsibility
This stance by many men, along with the availability of abortion, has too often allowed them to escape scot-free, with little to no consequences or accountability. For example, nearly 80% of teen fathers don’t marry the mothers of their children. Too many men take a sexual risk, treat their partners as objects, and then sacrifice their pre-born child for convenience, selfishness, or as and an easy way out. In many cases, this decision further destabilizes already fragile and unstable relationships.
Men often fail to recognize that they are equal participants in the risks associated with sexual activity and birth control. As a result, they assume they can remain “baby-free.” The burden is placed on the woman, who is seen as solely responsible for the pregnancy. The man may then blame her, viewing the pregnancy as her problem—one that can be resolved with minimal financial cost and effort.
As feminist legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon observes, abortion “does not liberate women; it frees male sexual aggression.” In this view, abortion can function as a “get-out-of-jail-free” card for men who seek non-committal sexual relationships.
Some men feel entitled to tell women what to do with their bodies if it serves their own temporary desires. It is often women who suffer the more severe emotional and psychological consequences.
While men play a significant role in causing unintended pregnancies, many appear indifferent to preventing them. Although abortion is often framed as expanding women’s choices, it can also expand men’s ability to manipulate, pressure, coerce, or abandon responsibility altogether. Women—and often their children—bear a disproportionate burden, including economic hardship, while the issue of absent fathers remains insufficiently addressed.
Yet a man’s responsibility for fatherhood does not end at conception.
Impact of Male Support on Women’s Decisions
Research suggests that a lack of male support is a major factor in abortion decisions.
One study found that seven out of ten women who chose abortion did so because they lacked involvement, support, or commitment from the father, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, afraid, and totally alone.
A large study by Arthur Shostak (published in Men and Abortion: Lessons, Losses and Love. 1984), found that only about one-fourth of men offered financial support for raising the child, and only about half accompanied their partner to the abortion clinic.
Additionally, one study reported that 64% of women who had abortions said their partner provided no support.
Relational and Emotional Aftermath
When women are treated as objects or exploited, this dynamic can perpetuate itself. Some women, having experienced objectification, may in turn view their pre-born children in a similar way.
A woman may first feel unwanted by a man and tragically pass on that sense of unwantedness through abortion to her pre-born child.
Often, abortions occur because the child is perceived as unwanted. However, abortion can also result in a lost opportunity for fatherhood, creating an absence that affects both parents.
For many, the day of the abortion marks not only the loss of a child but also the significant loss of their relationship. Often, nothing remains the same afterward. Trust and vulnerability may be diminished, and the possibility of building a future together—including having children—can be significantly affected.
Men, too, pay a price for what is often framed as “reproductive health” when it is disconnected from responsibility and the value of life. The misuse of sexuality can introduce a profound death into what is meant to be a deeply intimate and life-giving experience. In this sense, the consequences extend beyond the immediate decision, affecting emotional, relational, and moral dimensions of life.
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For our posts on similar topics, see:
What Do Men Have to Say on Abortion?
No Combat Experience, No Opinion: Parallels in Pro-bombing and Pro-choice Rhetoric
Isolating Women and Encouraging Jerks”
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