Blog Post 1, option 1 ~ General Concerns

The history of these women in Solinger’s book certainly does express the many ethical issues that they faced along with the lack of choice and support. Besides just lacking their reproductive rights, they were also denied the right to their own body and how they wanted to be treated. This was being enforced not only by the society, but also by the family, friends, and doctors. As one woman states on page 98, “Adoption agencies, parents, relatives, friends all lent their subtle pressure. That’s not a choice” (pg. 98).

            The part that shocks me most is the complete lack of family support. When parents were told that their daughter was pregnant, they either kicked them out of the house (and family), or they made sure that they would get to make all of the decisions regarding their daughter’s body. A woman in Solinger’s book said “I was completely dehumanized” (pg. 73). Practically all of their rights were taken away from them by the people you would think would be the ones to provide the support.

            The parents also managed to get the doctors on their side. One woman said that she couldn’t find any doctors that would help her if she kept her baby other than a Psychologist who then diagnosed her as psychotic. Another father threatened to have his daughter sterilized after giving birth if she would decide to keep the baby.

            Though the pressure was hard from the family and doctors, the pressure from the society was even more extensive. The main idea that was out there was that you could only be a mother if you were married. Solinger said, “motherhood was not determined by biology, by giving birth. Rather, it was determined by marriage” (pg. 69). Politicians also worked to decrease the amount of single mothers. On page 68, Solinger said, “white politicians and policy makers went to extreme lengths to portray these mothers as sexually and maternally irresponsible, interested in having babies only to increase their welfare checks” (pg. 68). There were many other preconceived notions like this, for example, in a letter to the New York Times, the writer said, “Mothers who surrender their children for adoption are to be congratulated for using their better judgment in placing the welfare of the child before their own selfish ego” (pg. 84). Ideas like this confirmed and reinforced the opinions of the family and doctors. One woman said, “I tried to explain my rights to the social agency and my parents, but I was roundly informed that I had no moral right and reminded that I had no economic means to support myself with my child” (pg. 75).

            The biggest problem with these issues was that no one knew how much damage it really did to the birthmothers. One woman said, “Relinquishment broke my spirit, murdered my soul, and disabled me. It made me dysfunctional” (pg. 78). I don’t think that the society realized how debilitating these movements were until the CUB came into place and began to have a voice.