Saturday, May 28, 2005

Don't Want to Pay for Teenage Mothers? You Bigot!

This article is very interesting and thoughtful up until the end:

"Perhaps one concern about the 'baby factory' in Derby is that these are the wrong kind of people [i.e., the "underclass"] breeding... They fall pregnant without thinking of their careers, and are happy to live off benefits.

"This is little better than some of the old racist concerns about too many black babies."

If the article is objecting to the idea that underclass teenage mothers are all "welfare queens," then that is one thing. But I seem to be getting the message that it is wrong to resent someone for taking welfare benefits after getting pregnant as a teenager.

My general feeling on this sort of question: I don't care if it is racist, or classist, or sexist, or what, I care about are the concerns accurate? If the people getting pregnant as teenagers are putting a strain on the welfare system, then we have a right to be concerned about it. If not, then you can argue about the prejudice and whatnot that is involved.

But unless you are arguing that an assertion is inaccurate, I don't care if you think it is racist, or sexist, or classist, or whatever.

Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Ifeminists for the link.

That is all.

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