Are fathers victims of discrimination?

Announcement

• There will be homework for Wednesday. It will be at the homework tab later today.

David Benatar

• author of article we read earlier -- "Why it is better never to come into existence"
• today's reading: The Second Sexism pp. 50-53 and 137-42 (bb) 

Responsibility for children

1. Men and women can both avoid future responsibility by not having sex.
2. But only women can avoid future responsibility by having an abortion.
3. Should men have a vote on abortion? (no, Benatar rejects this)
4. Men should be able to avoid future responsibility too.  How?  After birth, by not having to pay child support.
5. Article that makes this argument, by philosopher Steven Hales.
6. Thomson says: even if fetus is a person with a right to life, if mother didn't give fetus a right to her body, it doesn't have that right.  Using the same reasoning:  assuming a baby is a person with a right to life, if father didn't give baby right to his support, it doesn't have that right. 
7. Benatar qualifies: says only "in some cases"
8. Case #1:  male minors who are victims of statutory rape
9. Case #2: "purloined sperm"  -- example
10. Must Thomson-style abortion supporters say that in all cases a father should be able to refuse child support?

Parental leave

1. Benatar says parental leave benefits are usually greater for mothers.
2. Family and Medical Leave Act -- no federal right to paid leave; right to unpaid leave is the same for mothers and fathers.
3. Paid leave in other countries -- more leave for mothers than fathers.  Is this unfair?

Citizenship

1. If mother is a citizen (and father not), child is automatically a citizen.
2. If father is a citizen (and mother not), (a) father must acknowledge paternity in writing, or (b) paternity must be established in court before child's 18th birthday
3. Unfair to fathers?

Custody

1. When mothers and fathers make conflicting requests for custody, "mothers' requests were granted twice as often as fathers' requests."
2. Benatar:  better parent should be chosen, without regard to sex.
3. Bode Miller case (Friday) 

Other custody issues (next time)

1. Mothers may relinquish relinquish children for adoption without informing fathers.
2. Should father be able to step in 1, 2, 3 ... years later and obtain custody?