Sex is over-rated: on the right to reproduce.
In this article, I will show what is respected most in human reproduction and parenting is not a right to reproduce in the way in which this right is explicitly proposed. The only way in which people can become, and function as, parents without having to submit themselves to anyone else's judgements and decisions, is by having reproductive sex. Whatever one's intentions, social status, standard of living, income, etc., so long as assistance is not required, that person's reproductive decisions will not be interfered with in any way, at least not until neglect or abuse of their offspring becomes known. Moreover, none of the features that are said to back the right to reproduce (such as bodily integrity or personal autonomy) can justify one's unquestioned access to the relationship with another unable to consent (the child). This indicates that the discourse in terms of the right to reproduce as is currently used so as to justify non-interference with natural reproduction and parenting coupled with the regulation of assisted forms of reproduction and parenting, is at best self-deluding and that all it protects is people's freedom to have reproductive sex and handle the consequences.
Cutas
Daniela
D
Department of Philosophy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. daniela.cutas@filosofi.gu.se