Holy Double Standards, Batman!

Published on January 20, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

A few years ago, a friend of mine, after his third child, decided it was time to get snipped. So, he spoke with the doctors about it, and found out something interesting:

In the state of Wisconsin, at least, a married man MUST have his wife's permission to have a vasectomy!

Contrary to a statement on a recent blog, it is not required (in Wisconsin, at least) for a woman to receive her husband's permission to have an abortion. There's an obvious double standard here that I just don't get.

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Jan 20, 2005

All I can say, is that I am GLAD I dont live in Wisconsin! I was single when I had it done, but I would think that is my decision to make, regardless.

Moderateman

on Jan 20, 2005

I am going to venture a guess that because a snip-job can be reversed and a dead baby cannot be brought back to life is why.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 20, 2005

actually, that should cause the OPPOSITE reaction. Because a snip job can be reversed, it should be the husband's right to make the decision. Essentially, the law makes the husband's nads community property, while the wife's womb (and decisions to abort children) are her own.

Zoomba

on Jan 20, 2005

I am going to venture a guess that because a snip-job can be reversed and a dead baby cannot be brought back to life is why.

That makes absolutely no sense to me. Why would the more permenant one not require dual party consent, but the one that can be reversed (and is thus less severe) does?

Dr Guy

on Jan 20, 2005

Got to agree with Gideon and Zoomba on this one. It should have the exact opposite effect.

drmiler

on Jan 20, 2005

Reply #2 By: Moderateman - 1/20/2005 2:47:03 PM
I am going to venture a guess that because a snip-job can be reversed

Not a 100% true statement. Reversal does NOT always work. I know from personal experience.

lifehappens

on Jan 20, 2005

very insightful.

lifehappens

on Jan 20, 2005

very insightful.

cactoblasta

on Jan 20, 2005

What's the law on hysterectomies? If they require the husband's approval then there is no double standard at all. Losing the ability to father a child and having an abortion are two very different things. It's like saying that masturbation or having sex outside of the right times is wrong because it stops all those sperm from reaching eggs. You can't really compare them.

trina_p

on Jan 20, 2005

I think you're referring to tubal ligations -- not hysterectomies. A woman can choose to have her tubes tied. But no woman would ever choose to have her uterus removed unless it was completely necessary for her health. Hysterectomies aren't a birth control solution. You can't just put them back if you decide at another stage to have a child - that's where IVF, surrogacy and donor eggs come into play.

If a woman didn't have to get consent from her partner to get her tubes tied THEN there's a double standard. Although it's not so easily reversed as a vasectomy (which isn't ALWAYS reversable either)

However I also agree that the father has a right in what should happen to his child.

cactoblasta

on Jan 20, 2005

Oops. I think I need to study up a bit more on medicine. Thanks trina - tubal ligations are exactly what I meant, not having the whole uterus removed.

on Jan 20, 2005

Btw...if you just had a tubal ligations don't mean you can't have a child anymore. My sister in law just had that, and had unprotected sex, thinking it was okay. The result is their 4th child.

Doctor didn't tell them that the process needs about 1 or 2 weeks to fully protect from pregnancy.

trina_p

on Jan 20, 2005

Well that makes sense, what if there was already an egg on it's way down the tube, or planted in womb already

kingbee

on Jan 20, 2005

I think you're referring to tubal ligations -- not hysterectomies

exactly. and an insightful to trina_p for comparing apples with apples (so to speak)

kingbee

on Jan 20, 2005

In the state of Wisconsin, at least, a married man MUST have his wife's permission to have a vasectomy!

wisconsin being the state that issues free hunting licenses to the legally blind, im sorta scared to ask but...who has to give permission to single or separated men? can ya get it done free by a legally blind doctor?

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