Angelica Cheng
Active Member
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letter...night-beauties-stuff-voyeuristic-male-fantasy
Consider child welfare in debate on freezing eggs
I read with great interest the article, “Singapore’s single women ‘not supported’ even as egg-freezing rules are eased” (May 20).
While some argue that women’s reproductive autonomy and control over their own bodies justifies allowing single women to freeze their eggs and choose single parenthood, the other side of the coin is child welfare and rights.
A woman’s right to choose comes with consequences and responsibilities that will not only affect her but will also have a profound impact on her unborn child, particularly in Asian societies that generally tend to be more socially conservative than Western countries.
For example, a woman may think that she is financially, emotionally and physically ready for single motherhood, but reality may not be so kind to her and her child.
She would have to juggle earning enough money with caring for her child, which can be both physically and emotionally draining. If she needs to work overtime to financially support her child, this may affect the parent-child relationship.
Can she rely on her parents and other family members to provide childcare and financial assistance during her single motherhood journey? If her parents and other family members disapprove of her choice in the first place, then she and her child will have a hard time.
By contrast, her married counterparts can also rely on their husbands and in-laws for additional childcare support, apart from their own parents. A single mother may end up spending extra money on a nanny or childcare centre.
Then, there are also potential detrimental psychosocial effects on a fatherless child. For example, how would the child feel upon going to school and observing that most classmates have a father and mother, while he or she has only a mother?
If a woman uses an anonymous sperm donor in her pursuit of single motherhood, the identity of the biological father of her child and the role that he plays in the child’s life would be a complete blank.
Hence, a single woman exercising her right to motherhood using eggs that had been frozen may not serve the best interests of her unborn child.
Consider child welfare in debate on freezing eggs
I read with great interest the article, “Singapore’s single women ‘not supported’ even as egg-freezing rules are eased” (May 20).
While some argue that women’s reproductive autonomy and control over their own bodies justifies allowing single women to freeze their eggs and choose single parenthood, the other side of the coin is child welfare and rights.
A woman’s right to choose comes with consequences and responsibilities that will not only affect her but will also have a profound impact on her unborn child, particularly in Asian societies that generally tend to be more socially conservative than Western countries.
For example, a woman may think that she is financially, emotionally and physically ready for single motherhood, but reality may not be so kind to her and her child.
She would have to juggle earning enough money with caring for her child, which can be both physically and emotionally draining. If she needs to work overtime to financially support her child, this may affect the parent-child relationship.
Can she rely on her parents and other family members to provide childcare and financial assistance during her single motherhood journey? If her parents and other family members disapprove of her choice in the first place, then she and her child will have a hard time.
By contrast, her married counterparts can also rely on their husbands and in-laws for additional childcare support, apart from their own parents. A single mother may end up spending extra money on a nanny or childcare centre.
Then, there are also potential detrimental psychosocial effects on a fatherless child. For example, how would the child feel upon going to school and observing that most classmates have a father and mother, while he or she has only a mother?
If a woman uses an anonymous sperm donor in her pursuit of single motherhood, the identity of the biological father of her child and the role that he plays in the child’s life would be a complete blank.
Hence, a single woman exercising her right to motherhood using eggs that had been frozen may not serve the best interests of her unborn child.
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