Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics History Roundtable Whose kid is it, anyway?

I think I was close to taking another thread off topic so I’m creating a new one here. The question is:

Why does paternity matter?

I know tha Conservatives are using paternity to weaponize the abortion issue.



...as if rapists have a right to have a say regarding the upbringing of their demon spawn.

Paternity matters so the father can be sued for child support.

Rick: how can paternity weaponize the abortion issue?

Greger: is it fair to say paternity is primarily a financial issue?

Great questions, Mellow.

If the mother is made to go full term, she shouldn't be the only one with the option to raise it or give it up for adoption. The father should take responsibility for the pregnancy and the baby's care.

This was alluded to on the other thread: If the father doesn’t want responsibility for the pregnancy or the baby, can he - should he - be pushed into active fatherhood? From the point of view of the welfare of the baby, wouldn’t it be just as good if such a “father” just disappeared?

Paternity is more than just a financial issue. It's a responsibility issue.

When you fire your weapon you are responsible for the damage it does.

The woman puts her life on the line to bear a child, It's okay if the father disappears as long as his paycheck is suitably garnished. If the father wants to take responsibility in other areas that's cool too.

That in my mind brings us back around to...shouldn't the involved people be the only ones to make their own decisions?
This troubles me about this whole part of the conversation....if that happens, shouldn't this happen? God, I just don't feel qualified. Neither should the government. I can envision all kinds of scenerios, some of which I know real cases about.

Full disclosure, I was Mom to my husband's blood child, our younger daughter, from the time she was 3 months old. We were glad when her other mom (they weren't married thank god) dropped out all the way for the most part (short version). Gary would have never turned his back on her. Me either.

Once the government has determined that it can force a woman to bear a child she does not want to bear, then yes...paternity becomes a huge deal because baby daddy has to assume the same responsibility for the child that the government has forced onto the woman.

Otherwise, government needs to assume paternity since it was responsible for the birth.

Okay, I want to back up a step or three. We’ve all referred to proven paternity as (more or less) an instrument of (legal) force, to be used on unwilling fathers to force support, mainly financial. Melanie adds social support. But the original question was more broad: Why does paternity matter?

In the other thread, someone referred to a social need to keep sex within the marital, oh, let’s call it an agreement.

My response was that sexual restriction began a very long time ago to ensure paternity, for the purpose of wealth and inheritance, and I think modern paternity tests are part of that long line. (What was Arthur’s retrieval of the sword from the stone, if not a paternity test?)

So I’m still trying to figure out: other than inheritance and legally enforced support of a child - what reason is there to care about paternity at all?