Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion

In this witty and cogent account, parenting blogger Blair (Design Mom) aims to “change the discourse” around abortion by pointing out that “99 percent of abortions are the result of unwanted pregnancies, and men cause all unwanted pregnancies.” In her 28-point argument for why the focus should shift from women’s bodies to men’s responsibilities, Blair notes that women produce fertile eggs for 24 hours per month, while men’s sperm is fertile “every single second of every single day”; that condoms are more available, easier to use, and have fewer side effects than hormonal birth control; and that women in the U.S. feel societal pressure to prioritize a man’s pleasure over their own safety and autonomy. Blair also argues that pregnancy is not a “risk-free adventure” (700 to 900 women die from pregnancy and childbirth-related causes in the U.S. each year) and that adoption is not an easy alternative to abortion. Her plan for “stopping irresponsible ejaculations” includes destigmatizing condom use and vasectomies, fact-based sex ed, and “holding politicians accountable” for supporting policies that reduce unwanted pregnancies. Flashes of acerbic humor and eye-opening statistics bolster Blair’s common-sense case. This polemic has the power to change minds. Agent: Meg Thompson, Thompson Literary. (Oct.)