"Lesbian" sperm banks and fatherless children...

[HoVis2001]

I made the mistake of clicking a Daily Mail link on my facebook feed today. Came across these two gems:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2714321/NHS-fund-sperm-bank-lesbians-New-generation-fatherless-families-paid-YOU.html

www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2715151/Britain-s-got-far-fatherless-families-without-NHS-deliberately-creating-more.html

The second one especially infuriated me. "Throughout the history of mankind, there have been compelling reasons, in every society, why couples want or are encouraged or required to make a lasting and public commitment to stay together before they have children." Thinking about some of the issues raised on the thread asking why the patriarchy oppresses women, my very loud mental response to this was that this (alleged) historical pattern is due to patriarchal constraints that we really ought to have grown out of (i.e. that women's reproduction should be controlled in order to ensure legitimacy of children etc, because the patrilineal line is what matters most).

The other aspect that got me going was the comment about girl children needing to see their fathers interacting with their mothers in order to learn what to expect of their future "relationships with men as an adult". Firstly, there's the inherent assumption that a girl will grow up to have heterosexual relationships (somewhat ironic given the concerns over a "lesbian" sperm bank!) Secondly, not all fathers interact positively with mothers, even if they are married, thus providing a far from helpful model to any daughters. Note also that a son learns discipline from a father whilst a daughter learns what to expect from the men who will shape her life...

Anyone else have thoughts on this? Is this just more Daily Mail misogyny or do lots of people actually think like this? Interested to hear the Mumsnet feminist chat analysis, 'cos you're all so damn clever and thoughtful about these things.

Yikes! daily mail!

Yep I find it pretty scary that they can say outright they want little girls to be conscripted into heterosexuality in this sort of way.

What's wrong with letting them choose for themselves?

I agree that often fathers are dismissive of mothers, or rude, or outright abusive but possibly their point is that this should be normalised.

Any studies on lesbian mothers I've come across have shown their children to have extremely good outcomes. Education, happiness etc.

Plus what does this mean for other woman-headed family units? Single heterosexual mothers, for example.

I've seen loads of people say 'children need male role models' - lesbian mothers just as much as anyone. I can't see it, myself. Children need good people in their lives who aren't a risk to them.

Children simply need role models. They need care and love and cuddles. Imho, it doesn't matter whether those come from a male or female. As long as a child feels secure and has a happy, stable home life, then I fail to see how being raised by one parent or two (straight or gay) can effect them negatively. Hell, the kid be could raised by a hippopotamus for all I care as long as that hippopotamus is a good parent and loves the child without question.

Another stellar offering from the DM I really don't understand how one newspaper can employ so many stupid people.

"I really don't understand how one newspaper can employ so many stupid people."

Oh, it doesn't, Vino. Most Mail journos are very bright (and often perfectly liberal). But the proprietor and editor know exactly what lines will work with the UK population as a whole.

Please do not take this article (or anything in the DM for that matter) seriously.

The real story:
A sperm bank will open funded by the NHS, because since the track-and-trace laws were introduced, sperm donating has dropped. Anyone can use it! Married couples, men who have a low sperm-count, females struggling to conceive for any reason, and yes lesbien couples can also use it.

Above not as interesting as a misogynistic homophobic rant.

Squidstirfry

Oh, I know it's all a massive misrepresentation of the facts. I just worry that a) people will believe it and b) that the discourses inherent within the DM presentation of it represents more than just journalistic spin - I.e. that many people genuinely think that a daughter just can't do without a father to show her how a good old heterosexual relationship should look.

I do find the DM fascinating in a train wreck kind of way. Their misogyny is so thinly veiled (cf the 'Femail' sidebar of shame) that I just wonder how they get away with it.