Indecision of Thomas Beatie--Ailene Huang

Thomas Beatie’s interview with Barbara Walters was an interesting insight into how he and his family are living their lives. What was particularly interesting was his apparent indecision of choosing a physical gender to be. I firmly believe that we are all born with a purpose, and that there are special tasks and responsibilities that are particular to each gender. Men and women are equal, we all have the same value as human beings, but each brings something different to the table particular to that gender. One of the gifts that women have is the ability to bare children. That is something specific and special to the female body. So when it comes to Beatie stating that he wanted to keep his “reproductive rights,” it stirs a bit of a fire within me because I believe when he decided he wanted to live fully as a male he gave up the “right” to have children with his body. Wanting to have a child isn’t a male or female thing, I agree with that, but wanting to carry a child is. It’s a female instinct. So to live as a complete male means that one gives up the “right” to carry out a task that is distinct and extraordinary to the female population. We as a society need to learn how to respect and honor the unique role and biological gift that women have.