Although we touched on this last week i want to take time to discuss more about the fathers role in a childs life. The present phrase "Dead-beat dad" dates back as far as during Puritan times. Around this time period it was a complete moral disgrace to have a child out of wedlock, so as a result many fathers denied their children. These children were then seen as illegitimate and bastards. In the Puritan society there was punishments for two people who produced bastard children but mainly for the mother. the result of having a child out of wedlock was hasty forced marriages. This reminds me of the case involving Macy and Ryan except they weren't forced. Why is it that in American society after a girl/woman is pregnant people automatically feel that marriage is the next option?
Although Puritans didn't condone the idea of "dead beat dads" they still existed. According to Luker, women were sometimes forced to tell the names of their child's father because Puritans wanted the man to live up to their responsibilities a father. They did this by inciting a form of modern day child support on them. They would make the father contribute financially to help in the upkeep of the child if a marriage could not be arranged. This is the same thing that court officials mandate in the case when one parent is ordered to help the other by providing monetary contributions.
In my life i am a testament to having a "dead-beat dad" and i would be considered a bastard. This is why this subject is important to me. When speaking of this subject and knowing the background, i wonder how would i be affected if i were living during the Puritan time period. Technically i would belong to no one and would have no kin. How would you feel if you lived back then as a bastard child? What problems do you think bastard/ illegitimate children faced? How do you think this effected the mother?
On to another subject, the most important and controversial issue discussed in chapter 3 of Luker's book was a woman's autonomy over her own body. This also dates back to the early 1900's with the introduction of contraceptives and abortions. The question raised is whether or not all women should have access to contraceptives and abortions. The problem posed was that married women of much wealthier statuses were the ones who took advantage of these options instead of the poor women who were not in a financially stable situations. How do you feel about married women receiving abortions?This is controversial today because women argue that it is their body and they should be able to do with it as they please, Back in the early 1900's this was a problem because people felt as though the wealthy people weren't reproducing at a rate to replace themselves. This gives me the idea that contraceptives; such as condoms were only legalized for poor women.
In regards to 16 and pregnant, they never mention abortion as even being an option. I think this portrays a false reality to viewers and is deceiving. Today more than half of the people you encounter has had and abortion, and many more contemplate it. Do you think abortions should be just limited to poor people or people of lower economic statuses? Or, should all women be allowed to make a decision to receive and abortion and why? Do you think that contraceptives are being used by teen moms? Or, does the condom really break? What do you think are some ways to alleviate the social problem of teen pregnancy?
First off I think that marriage is seen as the "right" thing to do because men are supposed to take care of their offspring, and what not. But as obviously has been shown marriages that are entered at a young age, or premature, do not last so just because someone gets pregnant doesn't mean that they should get married but the social pressures still exist today.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to Bastardy, I am right there with you. I have a child who I did not marry his father and so my son will forever be "illegitimate" or a "bastard". His father is truly a dead-beat dad. And what annoys me the most is the fact that many people think that my son is going to be disadvantaged and lose out on something so important when in all actuality fathers who are not good influences have a bad influence on their children if they stick around. So I feel like my son is going to be fine without his father around. Fortunately, I do not live in the puritan times where the women I am sure were probably damned to a very hard life. And the children were damned from the beginning which is completely unfair.
I think that contraception is used at times with teen mothers but at the same time not enough knowledge about contraception and how to prevent is known. I would say contraception is still a taboo especially in religious families. I would say sex is not as taboo but the idea of preventing births or having abortions is still ridden with shame. I would say one way to alleviate the problem of teen pregnancy is to take away the shame of having sex, teens have been having sex for forever now, this isn't new. There needs to be communication through public announcements and forums that talk about the struggle and the issues that come with teen pregnancy. I would say 16 & pregnant does an ok job of showing the emotional difficulties but doesn't show the financial, physical, mental toll that takes place with these parents.
Maegen Hahn
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI can't comment on having a "dead-beat dad" because I have one of the most supportive parents out there; despite giving my dad every reason in the book to not be there for me. I do however have a "dead-beat mom" if you want to call it that. I don't know what I would have done if my dad wasn't part of my life. Im lucky in the sense that my father is capable enough to raise me and my three brothers with the strength of both parents.
ReplyDeleteLuckily if we were to go back in time I wouldn't counted as a bastard but if the situation were reversed and it was my mom caring for me i would be, without a doubt, PISSED. I can't even imagine having doors closed to me simply because of my fathers choices. Im a hard headed determined girl and to have some one judge me based on ANYTHING upsets me. I think society would put so much shame on the child that it would seem like they wouldn't want to repeat the process but I'm sure that still happened.
As far as contraceptive use goes, i believe that condoms were made for everyone. Just because you are poor doesn't mean you shouldn't have a baby and just because you're rich doesn't mean you should become Kate Gosselin. When it comes to abortion, I'm on a fence I feel like if you are married and not using contraception you mine as well be standing in an open field, wrapped in foil with a sign saying strike me during a thunder storm. Abortion should be a last resort. CONDOMS! CONDOMS! CONDOMS! people! On top of birth control. you can never be too safe. your not only going to be changing your life but someone else's life too. I'm sure that many of sexually active teens are using protection and i understand it breaks but many of the teen moms on 16 and pregnant admit that they either weren't using it at all or they were using it sometimes. Once again. in a field+aluminum foil+no condom+lightening+two people=baby.
Jean Carr
i forgot to post my name under the lead blogger it was ME J'Quana Brown sorry guys
ReplyDelete