Is There a Sexist Double Standard For Older Moms and Dads?

August 16, 2009

Mother Nature made it so females can only reproduce between menstruation and menopause. In many cases, science allows males to procreate at an older age. Fertility and medical advancements have made it possible for both sexes to have children later in life. While 56 percent of lilsugar readers believe it's selfish for women to get pregnant past a certain point, do you believe the same is true for men? Or is there a double standard when it comes to hopeful mothers and fathers?

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9 Comments

Zivanod 3 years 39 weeks

Just because a man can father a child later in life, doesn't mean he should. And yes there are studies coming out now that indicate that the quality of sperm from older fathers is not as good as their younger counterparts. Not only are there genetic issues but being an older parent (male or female) is so unfair to the child. The likelihood of that child losing a parent early increases greatly with an older parent. That being said, I do feel that it is more socially acceptable for males to father a child later in life then a female. In men, it's seen as a sign of virility and in women a sign of stupidity.

Zivanod 3 years 39 weeks

Just because a man can father a child later in life, doesn't mean he should. And yes there are studies coming out now that indicate that the quality of sperm from older fathers is not as good as their younger counterparts.Not only are there genetic issues but being an older parent (male or female) is so unfair to the child. The likelihood of that child losing a parent early increases greatly with an older parent.That being said, I do feel that it is more socially acceptable for males to father a child later in life then a female. In men, it's seen as a sign of virility and in women a sign of stupidity.

Niami 3 years 39 weeks

I'm just wondering how everyone in the past prevented pregnancy after hitting the magic age of 35.

3 years 39 weeks

My mother is a preschool teacher and has had quite a few families where dad is in his 70's and mom is in her 30's, and they have a toddler. My mom has said that every child she has ever had that has come from a young mom and a senior dad had serious learning disabilities and developmental issues. There have been a lot of studies about this recently, and they have been finding a link to children with older dads and autism, and a lot of other developmental issues. I think just because men or women "can" have children into older age does not mean they should.

3 years 40 weeks

Are we talking past menopause? I don't think it's a double standard to say a woman is taking a big risk by using artificial means after menopause, I think it's the body's way of saying it's done. A man doesn't go through that. It's not a double standard, it's just now things are.

runningesq 3 years 40 weeks

How are we defining "older" women?

FrankiLee 3 years 40 weeks

As far as the baby's health, like RoaringSilence said, that is what makes a difference. Otherwise, I feel like it is unfair to the future child if a much older woman and/or man have children, and die two years after they are born.

Chrstne 3 years 40 weeks

I say older men should either use protection or get a vasectomy. While I don't know of the dangers of men reproducing past a certain point, I do know that it seems selfish to have a baby when you are 60, and die in 10 years -- leaving a child to go to some random family member or friend, or even foster care. For me, it's no different. If you are old, and your life expectancy only goes so high -- reconsider having children...period.I don't care if you're a male or female.

RoaringSilence 3 years 40 weeks

Being an older mom drastically increases your chances of having a baby with a disability, for example Down syndrome. At least to my knowledge, the dad's age has no influence on that. So yes, it makes a huge difference, and it has nothing to do with sexism.

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