Ancestors Quote by Sheri S. Tepper
““Our ancestors have much to answer for. Why? What did they do? …Long ago, they used machines and drugs to keep the unhealthy and unfit ones of us alive. In that past time it was believed that all persons must have children. It was a right deemed so precious that it was forced upon even those who did not value it or should not have had it. If one of our people became pregnant, our people used all their knowledge to assure the young would be born, no matter how sick or disabled. Then, if the young lived, they injected them and dosed them and radiated them and transfused and transplanted them, to keep them alive, and then, when they were grown, they used all their skills in assisting them to have children of their own.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Gate to Women's Country, Sheri S. Tepper, 1988
A critique of societies that prioritize reproduction over individual health and autonomy, using medical intervention to force survival and procreation.
In simple terms: Societies may force people to reproduce regardless of health.
Key Takeaway
Question the ethics of forced reproduction.
Themes
ethics
reproduction
medical intervention
autonomy
societal pressure
Mood
thoughtful
critical
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- healthcare ethics
- family planning
- genetic counseling
- social welfare programs
Key Concepts
bioethics
population control
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- What rights should individuals have over their reproductive choices?
- How do we balance societal needs with personal autonomy?
A Different Perspective
May overlook personal choice and the value of quality of life.
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