Lidy believes “the lot of women isn’t right”—specifically that an undesired pregnancy disproportionately affects the female who will be “saddled with their mistake for the rest of her life.” This situation plays out repeatedly over the course of the novel, from Alta and Elsie to, perhaps most heartbreakingly, Birdie. Do you agree with Lidy? Or is hers a sentiment and symptom of the era? What about her tongue-in-cheek assertion that “There’d be no babies if it were up to men to carry and birth them. The end of the human race”?
I am sorry to say that I think this is still true. Women have a greater responsibility; they certainly can’t walk away from the pregnancy whereas a man can. I have always felt that women need to take the responsibility for using birth control, as they will be the one having the child rather than be passive and trust the man to use protection. (I know that women did not have the options they do today for birth control but in both time periods the woman will be the one with the child.)
1 Like
I think this observation by Lidy continues to be true. It is particularly distressing that women are deprived of control of their own bodies in the absence of shared responsibility,
1 Like
I was surprised, somewhat naively, that Liddy took control of getting rid of Elsie’s baby, playing God as it were. I think Lidy’s comment about men was probably true for that era - men staying clear of the birthing, and leaving the rearing to the mothers, or nursemaids in wealthy families.
Yes, the burden of an undesired pregnancy is inherently unequal. Social stigma is placed on women, not men. Lidy’s statement is an accurate reading of the system she and other women are trapped in. This is still the case today.
And (lol) I believe most women (and men too) would agree that there would be no babies if men had to carry and birth them.
Absolutely the truth. The stigma attached to unwed mothers never carries over to the men. In fact, the bravado attached to the “conquest” can be summed up in McConnell’s remarks to the physician when asked whether he’d had relations with more than one women: “I’d like to meet a red-blooded American man who hasn’t!” “I used to keep track. Notched them on the old belt, you know?”
Nobody asks if there were any children produced by these encounters. The only concern was for the possibility of sexually transmitted disease. Maybe if the men who fathered children out of wedlock were required to wear some sort of “scarlet letter” (or better yet have to bear the children LOL), they would think twice before being so casual about the whole matter.
1 Like
While somethings change throughout history, this statement is still true.
absolutely true. Pregnancy disproportionately impacts females. It was worse 100 years ago because the opportunities for female employment following an illegitimate birth were nonexistent or involved prostitution. Men did not bear a similar mark.
I agree that unwanted pregnancies change only the women’s lives - both back when this book was written and its still the same today!
I totally agree. It’s always the women’s burden to take on an undesired pregnancy where a man can just walk away.
I really enjoyed that this was addressed in the book. It elevated the book to being more than a nice read. it made me think about how women’s lot has not changed with time. I agree with whaithr everyone has said above. This book is amazing
Unfortunately, I think this is still true. Women’s bodies are often forced into situations outside of thier control.
Still true today. And I hate that old, white, rich men are the ones making decisions for women’s health . Men are still able to get away from most of the responsibilities of unwanted pregnancies if they chose to.
1 Like
I agree with Lidy…women should absolutely have control over their bodies and whether or not a pregnancy should be terminated or not. And yes, I have to agree that if men were responsible for carrying, birthing and caring for a baby, we’d experience a significant decline in population!
I agree with the comments of everyone who has already replied to these questions. There are so many facets of this issue for women. I do agree with Lidy’s belief that “the lot of women isn’t right”, and I think it is as true today as it was in the era in which Lidy lived. I have always felt that if God had any gender it would definitely be a man because, I don’t think if God were a female, women’s anatomy would be designed as it is for birthing a baby. Childbirth should not be such an arduous process with so many potential complications that could be life-threatening for the women and the baby. A female God would come up with a different and better design for the whole childbirth process. It is without a question in mind that an “undesired pregnancy disproportionately affects females.” If a man is involved in the conception of an undesired pregnancy, their body is not affected by the pregnancy or the termination of the pregnancy.
Previous comments express my sentiments, too. When the topic of pregnancy control is discussed in the political arena I listen for comments about legislating and mandating at a minimum the financial responsibilities of the baby daddy. This discussion is absent in my state. Daddies have choices, moms don’t.
Bragging about the number of women a man has had sexual relations with is as old as the hills. I know of one man in his 70s who has kept a journal since he was a teen and given a prostitute as a birthday present. Gosh, he still hasn’t found the “right” woman.
Thankfully, I’ve met many guys in my seven decades who are responsible fathers!!
I think this sentiment was a sign of the times. Women, years ago, had pregnancies and many of them. They suffered health wise and often died. Today, it is different for the most part women have choices either with birth control or medically induced abortions. Women don’t have to be martyrs and have children when they don’t want to. It is not unusual for women to postpone getting pregnant when they want to have a profession. Some women have decided, early on, they don’t want to have children at all.