Moral case for contraception

Contraception is not wrong

Condoms

The moral case for contraception is largely based on the absence - in the eyes of supporters - of any good reason for considering birth control morally wrong.

But there are many positive reasons why people believe that it is right to allow people to practice birth control.

Human rights benefits

• it's essential for "procreative liberty"
  • if people are not allowed a choice over whether or not to have children, their autonomy and freedom to control their lives is seriously restricted

Health benefits

• it prevents the conception of unwanted children
  • and so reduces the number of possible abortions
• it enables women whose health would be at risk if they conceived, to continue to have sex
• the use of condoms helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases and HIV

Family benefits

• it prevents the conception of children that a family cannot support
• it enables people to avoid having more children than they want
• it improves marriage because
  • it enables couples to enjoy the unitive function of sexual activity without being anxious about conceiving a child
  • it enables couples to have fewer children and thus spend more time together and with the children they do have
  • it reduces the cost of marriage (children are expensive)

Benefits for women

• it promotes gender equality and the autonomy of women:
  • pregnancy and child-rearing affect women much more than men
  • women should have the right to choose or avoid these activities
  • any restriction of birth control is therefore sexual discrimination
• it promotes gender equality and the autonomy of women:
  • it enables women to enjoy sexual activity on the same basis as men
  • any restriction of birth control is therefore a denial of women's right to sexual autonomy
• it promotes gender equality and the autonomy of women:
  • without contraception a woman may find herself having regular pregnancies
  • this leads her to remain economically dependant on her partner
• it enables women whose health would be at risk if they conceived, to continue to have sex

Demographic benefits

• it enables world population to be controlled and thus protects the environment and reduces poverty
  • many people think this is a dubious benefit, and point out that fairer use of the world's resources would be a better way of reducing poverty and more environmentally friendly behaviour would be a better way of protecting the environment