One of the great ironies of the so-called father’s rights movement is that it primarily focuses on taking rights away from mothers. There’s little push for fathers to take on more household duties, pay more child support to support their children, or help cover the costs of maternity care. So it should come as no surprise that a recent focus of the men’s rights movement has been stopping women from having abortions. If you’re pregnant, you may wonder if the father can stop your abortion. The answer, legally, is no–but he can definitely make getting an abortion harder.
Can a Father Stop an Abortion?
As long as the pregnancy remains in your body, it is a part of you, and the father has no control over the decisions you make, including abortion. There is no legal action a father can take to stop an abortion, though several states have attempted to change this.
If I’m Married Do I Need My Husband’s Permission for an Abortion?
Being married doesn’t have any bearing on whether or not you can legally have an abortion. You still retain the right to control your own body. You don’t have to tell anyone about your abortion, including your husband. And an abortion clinics or obstetrician cannot tell anyone about your abortion without your permission. So if you don’t want your spouse to know, put someone else as your contact person for an emergency.
While your spouse or partner may not be able to legally stop your abortion, they can certainly make it difficult in other ways. If you are experiencing abuse or threats, be sure to tell the abortion clinic. They can offer resources to keep you safe, and may even be able to help with paying for your abortion. Can a man stop an abortion is not an uncommon question. Most abortion clinic providers have heard all kinds of stories — you can trust them with your story.
