Pregnant Man
Posted on March 22, 2008 - Filed Under Health |
How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Incredible. Despite the fact that my belly is growing with a new life inside me, I am stable and confident being the man that I am. In a technical sense I see myself as my own surrogate, though my gender identity as male is constant. To Nancy, I am her husband carrying our child—I am so lucky to have such a loving, supportive wife. I will be my daughter’s father, and Nancy will be her mother. We will be a family.
He used to be a woman, so that’s how this is possible. I’m generally quite laissez-faire about social matters, but this makes me uneasy. I mean, what the fuck is the kid going to think? And how’s he going to give birth?
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10 Responses to “Pregnant Man”
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C-Section I assume.
“what the fuck is the kid going to think?”
Probably won’t be all that shocking for the child, given that most of our attitudes towards these things are societal and he’ll be raised by parents who will be able to explain it to him.
Except for, you know, the part where everyone he goes to school with that finds out calls him a ‘freak’…. and you know, completely makes his life a misery…
And especially given the oh so joyous response that the rest of the medical community and the couples family have given them upon their ‘good news’…
I’m with John on this one.
Also, you kind of have to question the guy’s motivations. If some woman wants to change herself into a man, ok. But if that same person then decides that they want to become pregnant, while in a man’s body, then I think you’re looking at someone who just likes being provocative. Men don’t get pregnant. If you really wanted to be a man, becoming pregnant would not be on your agenda. I bet this person is delighted with the idea that they’re going to the world’s first pregnant ‘man’ (remember, real men don’t get pregnant). This individual is nothing but a subversive and I really doubt that they’re fit to raise a kid. It’s cases like this that push me towards conservatism.
John - You’ve got it backwards. If the chance of the kid getting bullied in school was used as the rationale for the couple not having a kid then ignorance wins. It’s the same kind of mistake made by people who talk about suicide rates being higher among gays as though depression is a symptom of being gay when in fact it’s a result of homophobia. So the kid’s life might be harder but I’ll wager in the long run he/she would rather being brought into the world than not.
Cian - If he/she/whatever is willing to go through nine months of pregnancy just to be “provocative” then I think they deserve it. That said, I really don’t see that you have any grounds for your inference just on the basis that this would be a first. (Personally I think I’d be highly insulted by such a suggestion)
“Men don’t get pregnant” - until now apparently.
“I bet this person is delighted with the idea that they’re going to the world’s first pregnant ‘man’”
“Some transmen (female-to-male transgender people) who interrupt hormone treatments can become pregnant, while still identifying and living as male—this is possible for individuals who still have functioning ovaries.” (wiki article on male pregnancy)
- That pretty much shoots down your theory, no?
Brian, I’m not actually opposed to this happening, I’m just saying that the optimistic tone of the first comment was a bit too optimistic… Personally, regardless of whatever kind of ignorance that the children have, it will be supported by many of the ignorant beliefs of the parents… Im not suggesting the child wont have a happy home or whatever but it is going to get some shit for its parents lifestyles… im not saying it doesnt suck but given that much of the childs extended family - uncle’s/aunts/etc already seem to regard it as an ‘abomination’ I would guess its in for a rough ride….
Fair enough, I’d agree with most of that.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_7329700/7329781.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1
video on the BBC about your ‘mother’ to be …
also,if ‘he’s’ on Oprah its probably a good way to get accepted…