# Sterilizing the retarded **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 15, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693 "2005-12-15T04:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/21 "2005-12-16T20:17:21Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > Retarded males don’t get pregnant. So, no. They won’t have the same issues. But they’re equally unable to consent to sex, and can get a woman pregnant. It’s a similar issue. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/22 "2005-12-16T23:45:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > But they’re equally unable to consent to sex, and can get a woman pregnant. It’s a similar issue. False. The developmentally disabled have the right to consent to sex (social interaction)…at least in [California](http://www.dds.ca.gov/Title17/SectionView.cfm?Section=50510.htm). Other rights mentioned would also include freedom from harmful procedures. It would be up to the courts to decide whether or not they LOSE the right to consent. Otherwise, they have the same rights as you and me. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/23 "2005-12-17T00:48:22Z")
First, I’d like to remind everyone - the situation in the OP was not a general policy for sterilizing all persons who have been declared retarded, but sterilizing **one** woman. I don’t think anyone is advocating a general policy here, just discussing the ramifications of this one _fictional_ situation. Secondly - **eleanorigby** , sterilization of males does not prevent rape or assault from being possible. So mentioning that is a non-starter. All it does is prevent conception. This is not to say it’s a trivial consideration, but to bring up rape or assault as a reason to consider male sterilization doesn’t follow, I don’t think. I certainly don’t agree with the poster who implied that males can’t be considered for sterilization. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/24 "2005-12-17T03:42:36Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > and be thrown in prison for assault/rape. Sterilized or not. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/25 "2005-12-17T06:32:53Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > False. I was trying to say that a male who was unable to consent because of mental disability would be just as unable as a female with the same disability. But maybe it’s a non-issue in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/26 "2005-12-17T11:16:49Z")
In this case we have a father going to have his retarded daughter sterilised. I’m okay with that, absent more modern medicine. Two points: firstly, this is the father and not the state, and for the most part, he’d be in a far better position to decide for her; secondly, by having her sterilised, the father is giving up hope of grandchildren by her - his genetic line will come to an end unless he has other children. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693/27 "2005-12-17T12:08:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I was trying to say that a male who was unable to consent because of mental disability would be just as unable as a female with the same disability. But maybe it’s a non-issue in that case. That’s all I’m saying. I just thought that a discussion like this should not only look at one side. I am not sure how I feel about this issue–I’m big on informed consent (and abusing the retarded is below disgusting in my book), but it’s a conundrum. Is the(ultimate) issue preventing conception or is it preventing sexual behavior? My post re vascetomies was the same as BC or sterilizing women. Of couse it doesn’t prevent rape–I was given the reason for only concentrating on females was because of the pregnancy issue–I brought up assault/rape to demonstrate a consequence of the male side of things. Of course, paternity could be proven as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sterilizing-the-retarded/335693.md?page=1)