Abstract
It is not necessary to invoke concepts such as reproductive rights or reproductive justice to address the needs of reproductive health. A modus vivendi based on personal and public health needs and sufficiencies will protect the needs of all in a more parsimonious way, while probably generating less conflict than do controversial assertions of reproductive right and justice. Some controversy is inevitable, as traditional pronatal views clash with an apparent need for more antinatal mores generated by adverse Anthropocene changes resulting from rapid population growth and resource consumption over several centuries. The chapter proposes a body of information that all children need to know to protect their safety. It also suggests that, for public health reasons alone (as suggested by Douglas Diekema), reproductively capable minors should be entitled to private and confidential access to prevention of conception and childbirth on the same basis as adults. The chapter discusses, but does not resolve, whether a parent should be permitted to compel the abortion of a fetus carried by a minor who is incompetent to make decisions. It also discusses the prerogative of a minor to place her child for adoption.
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Notes
- 1.
Anecdotal data suggest that at least the first episode of sexual intercourse in newly sexually mature females is forced. Women of my age raised in affluent environments have reported to me discussions with their peers in junior high school (generally age 11–14) revealing forced sexual encounters those classmates had experienced. My informants believed that such experiences were not rare. It should be presumed that girls’ sexual activity below age 15 is not voluntary. The situation with boys is murkier. Boys are unlikely to admit to anyone that they have had an involuntary sexual encounter. For some recent work on the involuntary sex that women, as well as men, inflict on young males, see Curry and Utley (2018), Depraetere et al. (2020), Ohlert et al. (2020).
- 2.
- 3.
In this chapter, the terms ‘man’ and ‘woman’ refer to biological sex unless the context suggests otherwise. The terms ‘male’ and ‘female,’ used as nouns, refer to lived gender roles. The meaning of these latter two words, when used as adjectives, should be inferred from the context.
- 4.
Essentialism frequently is countered by destroying straw men. Phillips (2010) described essentialism as attribution of characteristics to everyone within a particular category. Except for characteristics that define differences (i.e., lactation and reproductive functions), almost all essentialists would say that differences apply to group averages rather than to everyone in the group. Some authors refer to speculative cringeworthy statements over a century old (Heyman and Giles 2006). Authors may also reject essentialism explicitly because it might lead to conclusions different from those the authors wish to adopt—a form of argument that reasons backwards.
- 5.
These assertions are based on dicta in the Mozert opinion. Obiter dicta are statements in judicial opinions that do not directly address the subject of the controversy at issue. They do not have precedential force, because courts are only permitted to rule on the legal issues in dispute.
- 6.
The extent to which the government should actively make services available is a political matter, and should be governed by modus vivendi and sufficientarian considerations.
- 7.
Under the American Affordable Care Act, a child may remain on a parent’s policy until age 26, so those affected may be above the age of adolescence.
- 8.
Readers are reminded that dicta, or statements in legal rulings that address issues that are not relevant to deciding the case at hand. They are not precedential, as courts rightly can rule only on matters brought before them. If courts could establish precedent on issues not brought before them, they would not be adjudicating cases—they would be legislating (Abramowicz and Stearns 2005).
- 9.
I have seen this several times as a physician and administrator.
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Jacobs, A.J. (2022). Sexual and Reproductive Issues I: Education; Reproductive Choices. In: Assigning Responsibility for Children’s Health When Parents and Authorities Disagree: Whose Child?. The International Library of Bioethics, vol 90. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87698-2_12
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