Dave Chappelle, in his signature raw and unfiltered style, argues that if a woman has the exclusive right to decide whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy, then a man should have the right to abandon financial responsibility. His claim is simple: her body, her choice—his money, his choice. But is he right? Does a father’s financial obligation depend on his reproductive choice, or is it an inescapable consequence of conception? And if men can be legally forced into parenthood, should they also have the right to demand damages when a wanted pregnancy is terminated?



This chapter dissects the legal, ethical, and financial dimensions of paternal rights in abortion, asking fundamental questions: Does the physical burden of pregnancy give the woman sole authority over the fetus? If so, should that authority come with a greater share of responsibility? If frozen embryos require mutual consent for use, why doesn’t natural conception demand the same standard? If men are financially responsible for children they did not choose, do they have any claim over children they wanted but were denied? Should the custodial parent have to account for how child support received is spent? Should reproductive deception—such as lying about contraception—carry legal consequences?



We challenge the assumption that parental responsibility is an automatic outcome of biology rather than an agreement. We examine how legal disputes over embryo ownership mirror the abortion debate, and how Monsanto’s genetic patent lawsuits raise unsettling parallels to the question of whether a father’s genetic contribution entitles him to reproductive rights. We explore whether parental obligations should be contractual, rather than imposed, and whether financial responsibility should be proportionate to decision-making authority.



The goal of this chapter is to move beyond the polarized rhetoric of pro-choice vs. pro-life and instead focus on the underlying principles of fairness, responsibility, and consent. The value proposition to the reader is clear: by understanding the contractual nature of reproduction, we can construct a framework that is logically consistent, ethically sound, and legally enforceable.



Ultimately, this chapter forces the reader to reconsider whether reproductive rights are truly equal, whether financial obligations should follow reproductive choice, and whether men deserve greater legal standing in the decision to become parents. The debate over abortion has always focused on a woman’s right to choose—but we ask: What’s Dad Got to Do with It?