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Enforced maternity brings into the world wretched infants…

“Enforced maternity brings into the world wretched infants, whom their parents will be unable to support and who will become the victims of public care or ‘child martyrs’. It must be pointed out that our society, so concerned to defend the rights of the embryo, shows no interest in the children…” quote by Simone de Beauvoir
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““Enforced maternity brings into the world wretched infants, whom their parents will be unable to support and who will become the victims of public care or ‘child martyrs’. It must be pointed out that our society, so concerned to defend the rights of the embryo, shows no interest in the children once they are born; it prosecutes the abortionists instead of undertaking to reform that scandalous institution known as ‘public assistance’; those responsible for entrusting the children to their torturers are allowed to go free; society closes its eyes to the frightful tyranny of brutes in children’s asylums and private foster homes.””

Simone de Beauvoir

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society neglects children born into poverty, focusing on abstract rights while ignoring real suffering.

In simple terms: Society cares more about embryos than actual children.

Key Takeaway

Address systemic neglect of vulnerable children.

Themes

social justice child welfare ethics policy inequality

Mood

concerned urgent reflective

Type

advocacy critical analytical

When to use this quote

  • welfare reform
  • policy advocacy
  • community support
  • legal action

Key Concepts

human rights public assistance state responsibility care systems

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we shift public focus from abstract rights to concrete child welfare?
  • What policies could better protect children in foster care?
A Different Perspective

Societal change is slow and faces political resistance.

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