There's seems to be an increasingly popular "move" online of calling people who think abortion is wrong and should be illegal "force birthers."
The thought is that these are people who want to, and would, force women to give birth because they would force women to not have abortions if they could and that's their goal.
Here I want to observe that calling someone a "forced birther" is just silly.
So, here's the dialogue:
A. "You're a 'forced birther'!"
B. "Why's that?"
A. "You would force women to not have abortions, and so force them to have birth!"
B. "Yes, I think abortion is wrong and should be illegal."
A. "So you are "forced birther"!"
B. "Well, yes, I think abortion is wrong and should be illegal. So, yeah, you are observing that I do indeed believe what you are accusing me of believing: that's what people who think abortion is wrong and should be illegal think: do you have any reason to think this position is mistaken?"
So, what's happening is that the pro-choice finds someone who they (correctly or incorrectly) believes abortion is wrong and should be illegal. They then angrily call them a "forced birther" which basically amounts to saying "They think abortion should be wrong and should be illegal!!"
Now, isn't it just obvious to everyone that this person thinks abortion is wrong and should be illegal?
Of course.
Is telling something who thinks that abortion is wrong and should be illegal that "You think abortion is wrong and should be illegal!!" giving them any new information or arguments to think about it? Might it in any way going to change their minds (for the better)? Does telling anyone this give them any reason to think that they are perhaps mistaken in their views?
No, not at all.
So then why do people say things like this, since it's obviously not going to persuade anyone, give them any kind of reasons to consider that might lead to their changing their mind, or "shore up" any pro-choice persons' views on the issues?
Seems like the answer is this: saying this (and things like it) amounts to "virtue signaling," which is this:
noun Sometimes Disparaging.
the sharing of one's point of view on a social or political issue, often on social media, in order to garner praise or acknowledgment of one’s righteousness from others who share that point of view, or to passively rebuke those who do not:The virtue signaling of solidarity with the victims can be a comforting affirmation of community.Their outraged virtue signaling comes across as contrived.
Why do people say things like this and other soundbites?
On the theory of virtue signaling, they say this to try to fit in with their crowd. To try to show that they are true believers. To be part of a . . cult?
While there's maybe a time and a place for that, it's surely worth asking if this move is helpful in any way.
Surely it isn't.
And it isn't because it does nothing to engage any arguments or concerns of people who oppose abortion. All it says is "You oppose abortion! Boo to that!" which is not productive in any way.
What would be productive, for pro-choice people and organizations?
One suggestion - beyond voting and engaging in relevant lawsuits - is to see all the types of things that anti-abortion people and organizations do, in terms of trainings and "educational" activities and think tanks, and matching those activities.
Pro-choice people being more informed on the issues, and so better able to engage other people on these issues by not relying on unpersuasive slogans based on bad arguments, would be very good, indeed a true virtue. Given the urgency of these issues, that's what's needed, not virtue signaling.
P.S. People who think abortion is wrong and should be illegal get called called "forced birthers," but sometimes people who observe that some reasons given to think abortion is not wrong and should be legal are bad arguments that will convince nobody also get called "force birthers." Anyone critical about any arguments in favor of abortion can get called this, even if they think abortions are generally not wrong, should be legal and even write books arguing that! (How do I know this??)
P.P.S. Sometimes observations of virtue signaling are themselves virtue signaling. Is that relevant to this post? If so, how? How is the group who shares the view expressed here best described?
Is abortion "healthcare"?
"Fetuses are human beings; all human beings are equal in dignity & worth; so abortion is wrong." Good or bad argument?
Pro-life virtues and vices? Pro-choice virtues and vices? On sex/gender and arguments
"Force birther"-ism and Virtue Signaling
Is the "bodily autonomy" argument for abortion *that* simple?
Are you part of a cult about abortion, or anything else?
Trent Horn on "The Problem of Personhood"
'Yes, "a person is a person, no matter how small," but . .'
"If abortion is not wrong, then it's OK to kill sleeping people??!"
"When does life begin?' and 'Are fetuses human?': Two bad questions to ask about abortion"
I think "forced birth" is not necessarily virtue signalling. Rather, it calls attention to the actual outcome of preventing abortion: a forced birth, with all that entails: the physical act of delivering a child, and the now-presence of a human being who will require care, necessitating physical, mental, emotional, and economic resources.
ReplyDeleteYes, but this is said like this: "This person thinks that pregnant people must give birth, that they are obligated to give birth, that it's wrong to have an abortion to avoid that!" That is what they think, and this response doesn't give any reason that they are mistaken about that.
DeleteThis may be the most oddly constructed strawman I've ever encountered. I don't understand why the authors removed all nuance from forced birth labeling and reduce it to the dictionary definitions of the words. The suspension of disbelief required of the hypothetical conversation is impossible. It can't have just been an attempt to squeeze in virtue signaling, because it didn't do a great job connecting those dots either. Here's how that would really go down:
ReplyDeleteA. "You're a 'forced birther'!"
B. "Why's that?"
A. "You don't care about the life of the unborn; only that they're born. You don't demand increased snap benefits so the disadvantaged mother can afford to feed the child you forced her to give birth to. You don't support a liveable minimum wage so she can afford to buy that child diapers, clothes, books, shoes, or toys. You don't advocate for the homeless, centralized healthcare, or pre-k for all. children. Your work is done once the child is born, because it's no longer an un- born. That's not pro-life, it's pro-birth. You're pro-forced birth."
B. "You shouldn't be having babies you can't afford to take care of. Ummm... I mean... Err... Keep your legs closed!"
Most anti-choicers aren't just silent with regard to the issues I mentioned, but many of them even actively work against them. I remain confident that "forced birther" is a legitimate criticism and not a form of virtue signaling. It is possible to change my mind, but not with logical fallacies.
Hi, thanks for this, which makes sense.
DeleteHowever, you seem to be suggesting that charges of being a "forced birther" are always or often followed up with charges that the "pro life" person is somehow hypocritical for not supporting other things that would enable a decent life for the child that they would "force" to be born.
However, conversationally those elements are often not present with these accusations. Find anyone who says abortion is wrong and they can be called a "forced birther": the other issues don't have to come up. And I bet the person could even be the rare bird that's all about providing positive support for these children, and they will still get called a "forced birther" since, well, they would force someone to give birth by not allowing abortions. That's the core issue which this term primarily relates to.
Oh, and there's nothing about a logical fallacy here. You are saying that people get called (and should get called) "forced birthers" only when both A and B are presented, and I'm responding that just A is enough.
DeleteIf someone was really motivated, they could do some kind of study to see who is correct here.
However, it is not at all uncommon for people to give question-begging arguments on these issues--"arguments" that simply assume the conclusion they are trying to "argue" for--and this is something on that common theme.
Here's the section on question-begging arguments:
https://www.abortionarguments.com/p/full-text.html#bad
I don't know why you used "somehow" as a qualifier for hypocritical. Is the hypocrisy not evident to you? And if not, I think there's a less passive aggressive way to indicate that.
DeleteI honestly don't think I've seen/heard "forced birther" used without the qualifiers, but I may not have noticed if I had, as that's what I know the word to mean. I think that's what most people understand it to mean, including anti-choicers.
I will admit that I was suspicious of your motives for writing this, and I thought you were likely some sort of "controlled opposition". After reading a few more of these pieces, I think I was probably wrong, and my hostility was unnecessary.
I suppose you are correct as far as the label being thrown around indiscriminately. It isn't always used with prior knowledge of what that person does or doesn't support; only assumed. So, I will concede to your point that it's a bad argument, but only when in the case of an anti-choice unicorn.
"I thought you were likely some sort of "controlled opposition."
DeleteWhat does that mean?
I think reading the short book Thinking Critically About Abortion might help you understand the motivations here. Thanks.
Pssh... I know what begging the question is! And I can't see my response to your first reply, because- moderation, but I'm p sure I admitted to a bit of assumption on my part.
DeleteThinking strictly of the principles of argumentation, you're correct. I would be guilty of logical fallacy, and my ability to argue yours gets a bit murky.
However, I would argue that irl forced birther is understood as I described it. Which flips it back on you.
I like this second reply though. A little 'jab and move' going on. I'm not mad at yah. Lol
Oh, I can also mention that I have been called a "forced birther" for observing that some arguments for abortion are not good arguments.
DeleteSo I have book in defense of abortion, and I've been called a "force birther."
Although these are just a few examples, they suggest that this phrase is not used as thoughtfully or accurately as you are saying it is.
Oh, and I said "somehow" because that's most accurate and safe, and because charges of hypocrisy are usually irrelevant to anything interesting:
ReplyDeletehttps://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2020/12/17/are-prolifers-hypocritical/
I know, right!? I couldn't remember what it was called and had to ask a friend. "Controlled opposition."
ReplyDeleteIt's used by conspiracy theorist types usually, but these kinds of people do actually exist. They pose as supports of an issue or as a neutral party, but they're actually very opposed to said issue. They attempt to make the other side look bad or stupid. As I mentioned though, I realized I was probably seeing something that wasn't there in this case.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteInteresting. But pretending that pro-choice people always or even often have good arguments for their views is not doing any good.
DeleteAnecdotal.
ReplyDeleteBUT I did rashly suspected you of being an imposter myself, so I can obviously see your point there. I wouldn't have jumped immediately to calling you a "forced birther," but you weren't writing about me.
Maybe I was looking at this less objectively than I should have. You have changed my mind. I do still think the hypothetical argument is weak, but it really doesn't matter. I see now, that even with my understanding of the word, it's presumptions.
I honestly don't see anything but holes in their arguments, but I suppose they see mine the same.
ReplyDeleteWhy no option to edit!?
ReplyDelete*supporters *suspect *presumptuous
Hi, about "Why no option to edit!?" the simple explanation is that Blogger.com does not offer that option as far as I can tell: there is no other explanation at play here. If you know how to enable that or make that happen, let me know. Thanks.
DeleteHi a tad late but have to respond. And I apologize in advance because this is going to seem very generalizing and mean.
ReplyDeleteIn examining your article and comments I noticed that you do as many pro lifers christian evangelists do.....you go silent as BerBer accurately pointed out or you find a way to blame the woman("she shouldve kept her legs closed" as if women have kids by themselves and I dare you to say that to someone who got raped....I tried to keep my legs closed he forced them open btw). Thus as a female POC, you just reinforce my suspicions that the whole pro life has nothing to do with the sanctity of life at all but with the sanctity of control. The control of white heterosexual men(like yourself based on your photo) over everyone else. Because as BerBer and George Carlin(may he R.I.P) pointed most of you pro life till the child is born then could care less once a live birth occurs especially if the child is not white. My experience as a caseworker, a homeless shelter and food pantry volunteer allows me this very snide, broad and cynical remark...sorry And the same politicians you all elect who talk about the "sanctity of life" are the ones that want abortions to be available when their side chicks get knocked up. Also allow me to play devils advocate but those same politicians have no problem signing death warrants for men already born on death row(and I am pro death penalty btw)In addition, I noticed that your crowd is noticeably silent when acts of hate were committed against people already born(Charleston church shooting, Atlanta shooting, Armaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor etc) stopping their beating hearts. Oh wait, they weren't white....my bad. Sorry again but it's look very pro forced birth from where I stand.
I have posed these points to several like you and I get no response or some strawman argument about big bad Planned Parenthood and the same tired argument of Margaret Sanger being racist. Pro choice means much more than your vague generalizations. I believe in the woman's right to choose. Her choice and her reproductive destiny. If she chooses to carry her pregnancy to term I will support her wholeheartedly. If she chooses to terminate her pregnancy, for whatever HER reasons(which are not for me, you, any of your pro life friends, those HBIC (head bigots in charge) in GA, AL, and FL, holy rolling christians be they catholic baptist whatever to judge) I support her. The decision should be hers and the partner if he is in the picture. So long story short as far as the epithet of "forced birther" being applied to you thanks to your silence or downright dismissal towards in regards to other lives (like the mother of the child, POC, men and women on death row, victims of hate crimes) if the shoe fits wear it....once again Sorry
Thanks for your response, which is puzzling given the goals of this page. This page is based on a book with the subtitle "Why Most Abortions Are Not Wrong and Why All Abortions Should be Legal." Did you not realize that?
DeleteI may misunderstand what you are saying but here's something to keep in mind: not everything said in support of true and justified claims must be true or justified: there can be bad arguments for good views. Maybe that's relevant here?
ReplyDelete