The Roberts Court, April 23, 2021
Seated from left to right: Justices Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor
Standing from left to right: Justices Brett M. Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Photograph by Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Where are the men?
Since most of us don’t believe in parthenogenetic birth, there must be a man involved in each wanted or unwanted pregnancy. But they are never a part of the discussion; their role is ignored—which may be a great relief to some women as well as to most men.
But how can we possibly arrive at a humane legal conclusion to this seemingly endless trouble without considering the role of men?
I’ve abandoned some men—none of them were pregnant, though—and I’ve been abandoned by some men, once when I was pregnant and went through the necessary abortion with the help of two friends.
So I know what I’m talking about:
Men who won’t use condoms. A common excuse is that condoms dull the feeling—or in one case I know, that no condom is large enough for the organ in question.
Blaming condoms that are said to “fail” far more often than studies reveal.
Wanting to be “spontaneous,” which means unprepared.
Being too drunk or drugged to know what is happening.
Raping.
Or simply disappearing immediately after “the act” or later when the resulting pregnancy becomes evident.
I’m not excusing us women of responsibility. We have a lot of different forms of contraceptives, some more aesthetically appealing than others. Some of you may remember Erica Yong’s description in “Fear of Flying” of trying for the first time to insert a diaphragm and seeing It fly across the room. Those things had quite a spring in them.
But we really can’t be expected by any sane human being to take ALL the responsibility for consequences that will burden and at times nearly destroy our lives.
So, ladies—for surely we are all ladies no matter how frankly we speak of what is never spoken of—the next time you go to a march or a demonstration supporting our beleaguered right to chose, why not carry a banner in bright colors reading
WHERE ARE THE MEN?
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