The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …

Posted on | September 7, 2013 | 61 Comments

. . . but, yeah, mainly it’s the biology:

[A] 38-year-old woman . . . is a client of Ronald G. Lieberman, a family law attorney in Haddonfield, N.J. Mr. Lieberman is asking his client’s soon-to-be-former husband of eight years to pay $20,000 to cover her egg-freezing procedure, medication costs and several years of egg storage. “When they got married, the expectation was they would start a family,” he told me. “Now she might not have the chance much longer.” . . .
In the New Jersey couple’s case, they decided to divorce after undergoing several failed attempts at in vitro fertilization. Mr. Lieberman’s argument is that since fertility treatments were part of the marriage, they should be considered part of the marital lifestyle, which should be maintained as much as possible post-divorce. The only difference is, in the future, she’ll use another man’s sperm.

Ann Althouse:

It’s not just a matter of a man taking up the best fertility years of a woman’s life and somehow owing her the nearest thing to giving back her youth.

Professor Althouse, “the best fertility years of a woman’s life,” from a strictly scientific view, are ages 18-24. After age 27, fertility begins to decline and, in your 30s, that decline accelerates. So by the time Lieberman’s client married at 30, she was past her prime.

Of course, most healthy women can get pregnant at age 30, but the problem is that many sexually active women are not actually in good reproductive health, often as a result of damage to their fallopian tubes caused by sexually transmitted infections:

Chlamydia infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease, responsible for a record 1.1 million cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007, and experts there estimate that twice that many cases go undetected. Left untreated, chlamydia can cause infertility or potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies. But many women aren’t even aware that they were exposed to it—possibly years ago — until they try to have a baby and can’t. . . .
Chlamydia is especially prevalent among women ages 15 to 19 and African-Americans, but sample studies have found the infection in nearly 10% of all female Army recruits, 10% of female college freshmen and 14% of women in managed-care plans. . . .
[E]ven when a woman no longer tests positive for an active infection, the chlamydia bacteria may have moved into her upper genital tract and set off pelvic inflammatory disease. PID can cause pelvic pain—or it can be asymptomatic—but it often leaves inflammation and scar tissue that blocks a woman’s fallopian tubes, preventing fertilization. PID is also the most common cause of ectopic pregnancy, which can be fatal. “It’s not the infection itself but the body’s response to get rid of the bacteria that causes the scarring,” says Dr. Toth. “And even if just some fragments of the bacteria remain, the immune system thinks an active infection is still present.”

At least one in 10 sexually active young women are infected with this disease that can effectively destroy her reproductive system and, as with all such diseases, the greater your number of partners — and the greater the number of your partners’ partners — the greater your risk of infection. Many women are ill-informed about the reality of this and other infertilty risks because of political correctness.

In 2001, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine decided to run a public awareness campaign with ads that stated plainly, “Advancing Age Decreases Your Ability to Have Children.” This is simply a fact — the science is settled — but because it contradicts feminist ideology, the NSRM ads were controversial:

Cindy O’Keefe, 28, who is single and wants to have kids, had a visceral reaction to the ad. “That’s pressuring women in their 20s and 30s to conceive,” she said, shouting over the lounge music at a trendy New York City bar. “That’s sick!”

Seattle Weekly reported that “women’s advocacy groups” denounced the “alarmist ads,” but since when are scientific facts “alarmist”? And isn’t a little factually-informed alarmism preferable to an ignorant indifference that results in desperate 30-something women shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for fertility treatments that, alas, often ultimately prove futile? I wrote about this issue a couple of years ago:

Postponing marriage until you are 30, and then imagining that you have plenty of time to wait around deciding when you want to become a mother, is not a natural way of thinking. To a greater extent than Rachel Birnbaum or her young readers may understand, this way of thinking is an artifact — or perhaps we might call it a side-effect — of the Contraceptive Culture, which fosters the belief that the procreative process is infinitely subject to human control. Yet while it is true that childbirth can always be prevented, by contraception or abortion, the logical obverse is not equally true: Pregnancy and childbirth cannot be magically conjured up in compliance to human will.

People really need to wake the hell up. The real world is not infinitely malleable, and biology does not conform to ideology.

 

 


Comments

61 Responses to “Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …”

  1. MrEvilMatt
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:27 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …: . . . but, yeah, mainly it’s the biolog… http://t.co/RlmOpD9kPn

  2. CHideout
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:27 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …: . . . but, yeah, mainly it’s the biolog… http://t.co/kHcshlCdtY

  3. Citzcom
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:27 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …: . . . but, yeah, mainly it’s the biolog… http://t.co/A0P19kOpMS

  4. jwbrown1969
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:27 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …: . . . but, yeah, mainly it’s the biolog… http://t.co/fMOgCI8pDi

  5. Lockestep1776
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:27 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology …: . . . but, yeah, mainly it’s the biolog… http://t.co/JQTUhnVOgv

  6. rsmccain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:28 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/OLyFrugULj | | @annalthouse @instapundit #tcot

  7. vermontaigne
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:30 pm

    RT @rsmccain: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/EaFF7PrVvp

  8. JadedByPolitics
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:31 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/JsqPEQnorg “biology does not conform to ideology”

  9. OwainPenllyn
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:35 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression & Biology http://t.co/xbwznjra6D via @rsmccain: #tcot #tgdn #sgp

  10. BeccaJLower
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:36 pm

    @rsmccain: Many women are ill-informed about the reality of infertilty risks because of political correctness. http://t.co/HImdSKJe42 #tcot

  11. preciseBlogs
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:37 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/1BqnmLyEdu #news #conservative #marriage

  12. rsmccain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:41 pm

    RT @BeccaJLower: @rsmccain: Many women are ill-informed about the reality of infertilty risks because of political correctness. http://t.co…

  13. rsmccain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:41 pm

    RT @OwainPenllyn: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression & Biology http://t.co/xbwznjra6D via @rsmccain: #tcot #tgdn #sgp

  14. rsmccain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:41 pm

    RT @vermontaigne: RT @rsmccain: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/EaFF7PrVvp

  15. rsmccain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:45 pm

    “The real world is not infinitely malleable, and biology does not conform to ideology.” http://t.co/OLyFrugULj

  16. JRose1965
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:48 pm

    RT @rsmccain: “The real world is not infinitely malleable, and biology does not conform to ideology.” http://t.co/OLyFrugULj

  17. StarCoreOne02
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:49 pm

    RT @rsmccain: “The real world is not infinitely malleable, and biology does not conform to ideology.” http://t.co/OLyFrugULj

  18. newagerain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:49 pm

    RT @OwainPenllyn: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression & Biology http://t.co/xbwznjra6D via @rsmccain: #tcot #tgdn #sgp

  19. elduderino1684
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:52 pm

    RT @rsmccain: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/OLyFrugULj | | @annalthouse @instapundit #t…

  20. instapundit
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:54 pm

    RT @rsmccain: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/OLyFrugULj | | @annalthouse @instapundit #t…

  21. BornLibre
    September 7th, 2013 @ 7:57 pm

    RT @rsmccain: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/OLyFrugULj | | @annalthouse @instapundit #t…

  22. Professor_Why
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:00 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/1FRwHGCXZB

  23. Steve Skubinna
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:07 pm

    What do we do it biology is racist and sexist? Who do we consign to sensitivity training? Who do we sue?

  24. robertstacymccain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:08 pm

    Mother Nature must be held accountable!

  25. jimveejr
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:21 pm

    RT @rsmccain: “The real world is not infinitely malleable, and biology does not conform to ideology.” http://t.co/OLyFrugULj

  26. ZillaStevenson
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:22 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/or1UZD6IOx @rsmccain angrying up #femisogynists, w/facts!

  27. Zilla of the Resistance
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm

    I know there are five “a”s in raaaaacist but how many extra letters do they use when you are denounced as SEXIST!!!1111!!!!, Stacy?

    Just wondering, or do they always have to use some big fake word they made up to try to sound smart instead like superhetereopartiarchilogicafragilistiexpealadocious or something?

  28. Zilla of the Resistance
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:26 pm

    Mother Nature doesn’t take to kindly to people who think that they know better than she does about the things she knows best; no good momma does.

  29. Kirby McCain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:27 pm

    So, this lady in Haddonfield, is her maiden name Myers?

    Pay for the treatments and run like hell. Her brother is due back anytime now!

  30. AmPowerBlog
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:30 pm

    Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression and Biology … http://t.co/LTf8zGj0Sm via @RSMcCain @Instapundit

  31. rmnixondeceased
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:31 pm

    Heh. Remember Mother Nature is a real bitch, don’t cross her …

  32. motownmutt
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:32 pm

    RT @OwainPenllyn: Divorced Woman Becomes Victim of Patriarchal Oppression & Biology http://t.co/xbwznjra6D via @rsmccain: #tcot #tgdn #sgp

  33. motownmutt
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:32 pm

    RT @BeccaJLower: @rsmccain: Many women are ill-informed about the reality of infertilty risks because of political correctness. http://t.co…

  34. La Pucelle
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:47 pm

    I was reading Megan Fox’s article, 9 Politically Incorrect Secrets to Keep Your Daughter from Twerking, yesterday, which had some of these same points. More and more, cases like this are coming up where women just assume that they’re going to be 25 forever. They’ve been conditioned to think they can have it all with no sacrifices and no trade-offs.

    But of course, reality isn’t affected by our expectations or desires. By the time some of the current fauxminist crop decide they want to be mommies after all, it’ll be too late.

  35. charles w
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:50 pm

    Especially if you have Chiffon margarine.

  36. Taxpayer1234
    September 7th, 2013 @ 8:58 pm

    Sometimes genetics trumps all. Both my grandmothers had kids in their 40s, and several of their daughters & granddaughters (including me) had kids in our 30s/40s.

  37. rmnixondeceased
    September 7th, 2013 @ 9:06 pm

    Heh. Memories …

  38. Helena Handbasket
    September 7th, 2013 @ 9:14 pm

    I second that. My mom had me at 37 (her first….my brother 2 years later), I had my first at age 39, my second at almost 42.

    In spite of it all, I’m still going to encourage my daughter to NOT follow in her grandma’s and mama’s footsteps. There’s always a possibility that she wouldn’t inherit our good fortune.

  39. Helena Handbasket
    September 7th, 2013 @ 9:23 pm

    So, not only does a man have no say if a woman gets an abortion, he also has to pay to help her get pregnant…..by another man?

    This country has gone completely, totally insane.

  40. DaveO
    September 7th, 2013 @ 9:37 pm

    Nature is not infinitely malleable, but people’s belief in science coming up with a solution that corrects a person’s bad choices in life. One sees the same religious fervor over the showing of a reliquary.

  41. AndyHDavis
    September 7th, 2013 @ 10:01 pm

    RT @BeccaJLower: @rsmccain: Many women are ill-informed about the reality of infertilty risks because of political correctness. http://t.co…

  42. Steve Skubinna
    September 7th, 2013 @ 11:24 pm

    You mean Gaia, the Ultimate MILF?

  43. Kirby McCain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 11:25 pm

    Oh, have a heart. This woman has been denied the American dream of 2.4 child support babies. The world owes her.

    Everybody’s doing it.

  44. Steve Skubinna
    September 7th, 2013 @ 11:27 pm

    The nasty secret is that men have always known that you can’t “Have It All.” We’ve always known and accepted that you must make sacrifices to start and support a family.

    The continuing perpetual adolescence of modern feminism is due to many women’s refusal to accept that they’ve been lied to.

  45. Kirby McCain
    September 7th, 2013 @ 11:29 pm

    Heredity and clean living.

  46. Taxpayer1234
    September 7th, 2013 @ 11:49 pm

    Yep, that’s true. Besides, having a kid when over 35 is just f’in exhausting. Wish I’d had mine 10 years earlier.

  47. Nan
    September 8th, 2013 @ 12:10 am

    God. Author of life and heteropterodactyl. Who knew?

  48. Bob Belvedere
    September 8th, 2013 @ 12:19 am

    My mother had me at age thirty-five and was drinking vodka and smoking throughout the whole nine months and look how I turned…oh, wait….

  49. Bob Belvedere
    September 8th, 2013 @ 12:20 am

    This country has gone completely, totally insane.

    You mean, you just noticed that?

  50. Bob Belvedere
    September 8th, 2013 @ 12:21 am

    God, Author of Life doesn’t like it when someone alters His text.