Friend A has been ranting about parental responsibility, and fathers not automatically getting parental responsibility if they aren't married to the mother (on facebook, I tend to avoid these arguments as they don't end well).
Mutual friend B has said that she thought it was to do with protection for the child and mother, so that absent father can't cause trouble. That if the relationship is amicable (either as a couple, or co-parenting) the father can apply for parental responsibility, or just get on with parenting. That father whether absent or not, still has a duty to provide for said child. That given the rise in couples who don't get married, possibly this is something that needs to be revisited. That yes, there are mothers who are awful and will take advantage of this, but very few. And that given mothers tend to be the prime caregivers in the event of the a relationship breakdown, this is probably the best way for it to be handled.
I read all this and thought "yep, broadly agreeing with that, sounds good". Friend A has jumped on her completely, calling her unfeminist, that treating parents differently perpetuates inequality and that it gives men a "get out of jail free" card in parenting.
Now tempted to stick my toe in, though I know it's a bad idea because facebook, but feeling quite sorry for friend B. Before I did that, I wanted to throw it open here, because I've learnt a lot through reading the feminism/relationship boards, do consider myself a feminist, and wanted to know if there is a general view that I (and friend B) are completely wrong and regressive, or if friend A is wrong. I'd love to live in a utopia where all parents, whether together or not, parent properly for the best for the children, but we don't live in that world.
Please help me formulate my views, or educate me if I am completely wrong?!
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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions
Unfeminist re parental responsibility?
50 replies
ThroughThinkandThing · 26/02/2017 14:09
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