The New Shotgun Weddings

Imagine the storm of objections if a male had written an article that condoned, even tacitly advocated, having men puncture holes in their condoms so as to make their reluctant girlfriends pregnant with children they did not want and did not plan for? What would women have to say about a man who substituted sugar pills for their birth control pills, and got them pregnant, unwillingly? (This happened recently in Britain--and the woman sued.) I say that this “new manipulation” is not OK; it is unethical and a breach of the basic agreement under which most couples cooperate. If a woman cannot get the commitment she wants, there are other men.

Erik Beckford

Malibu