Would Your Boyfriend Be “Pleased” By An Unplanned Pregnancy?

These new statistics should effectively disarm the popular (and extremely annoying) conviction that all women are delighted by the prospect of having a baby, regardless of whether the pregnancy is planned. Guess who is less excited by the idea of an unplanned pregnancy? Amanda Hess of The Sexist reports:

“Forty-three percent of young men responded that they would be “a little pleased” or “very pleased” by the news; only 20 percent of women answered the same.

Men also proved more comfortable with an unplanned pregnancy at an earlier age: Thirty-four percent of men 18-19 said they would be pleased. By the time they reach age 20-24, 42 percent of men said they would be pleased.

And over 50 percent of men aged 25-29 would be pleased by the news. Remember: this is only among men who deemed it “important” that a pregnancy not occur at this junction.”

The percentage of women who would be “pleased” by an unplanned pregnancy between the ages of 16 and 24 stays at a constant 16 percent – it then rises to 29 percent for the 25-29 percent age range. But the numbers are still pretty clear: women are far less enthused about the idea of an accidental pregnancy, perhaps, oh, I don’t know, because it affects us more seriously?

As a 21-year-old junior in college, I can safely say that an unplanned pregnancy would be extremely unwelcome news for me – as it would be, I would imagine, until I was in a place in my career where having a child would not prevent me from achieving my goals. And I wonder, to some extent, whether the idea of unplanned pregnancy is a relief for some men – in a sense, making decisions about marriage or commitment for them.

But I think the main lessons that can be drawn from these statistics are twofold: first of all, that young women are not as baby-crazy as pop culture would lead us to believe, and second, that pregnancy is much more serious for young women, whose lives and careers can be derailed. And this, my friends, is why white male legislators should not be making decisions about women’s reproductive choices.

Photo from Mahalie's Flickr photostream.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melissa D.

5:09PM PST on Mar 12, 2010

My ex was in his late 30s and was not at all pleased. He spent 5 months trying to talk me into getting an abortion. I am now a single mommy of a beautiful little baby girl.

send a green star

Donna J H.

9:37AM PST on Mar 7, 2010

Since I'm a woman and have lived six decades spaning the time of very restrictive birth control options for women along with strong societal sanctions on the sexual behavior of women, I have seen both men and women freak out over unplanned pregnancies. Before Roe/Wade, women literally risked death or serious physical damage trying to terminate unplanned pregnancies. Often these were married women who already had children. And unplanned children do not only impact the woman and man, it impacts the entire family. In 2010 it upsets me that so many pregnacies are still unplanned! Nothing - let me repeat - nothing impacts a woman more in life than the circumstances around when she has her first pregnancy.
Boomerang44

mary k.

3:42PM PST on Mar 6, 2010

my husband was also very happy too.

1:52PM PST on Mar 6, 2010

Teresa, that's not true, I was very happy to learn that I was pregnant. My baby wasn't planned

Robert S.

1:34PM PST on Mar 6, 2010

I would like to think that most men would actually "be a man" and accept their responsibility and show his support and provide for both mother and child. Sadly, thats not always the case.

Allison I.

5:24AM PST on Mar 6, 2010

Thanks!

That's because men won't be carrying a child for 9 months. :p More than likely, they would be a little less pleased if they knew what they were going to be dealing with haha.

Linda M.

1:14AM PST on Mar 6, 2010

thanks for the post

interesting comments from the men

Rayne K.

11:37AM PST on Mar 5, 2010

Hey Harold, I just wanted to let you know that there are lots of women out there who don't think all men are jerks. I think it's awesome that you take care of your kids and I know you're a role model for them because of it! You're right that we women can get catty and then cry when someone snaps back at us. My poor husband can attest to that. LOL!