527. Katy Faust Savages Hookup Culture
In this episode of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, the conversation centers on children's fundamental rights and interests, particularly their inalienable right to be raised by their biological parents. Guest Katy Faust, a children's rights advocate, contends that adult desires should never supersede the natural rights of children, including their right to their mother and father.
Faust argues that social policies must prioritize children's wellbeing and protect their right to stable, committed relationships with their biological parents. The discussion explores the tension between children's inherent needs and reframing adult reproductive choices as individual rights, underscoring the importance of considering parentally-deprived children's perspectives when addressing family issues.
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The Fundamental Rights and Interests of Children
According to Katy Faust, a staunch children's rights advocate, children have an inalienable right to be raised by their biological parents. Faust contends that adult desires should never usurp children's natural rights, including their right to their mother and father.
Children's wellbeing must take precedence over adult interests, even if adults have to sacrifice, says Faust. She argues that respecting children's rights is essential for their healthy development and society's prosperity. Maternal longing alone cannot justify practices like surrogacy that violate a child's primal right to their biological connection.
The Tension Between Children's Rights and Adult Desires
Adults often reframe self-interests as rights, costing children, suggests Faust. She views surrogacy as a way adults commodify children, violating their rights to their biological parents to fulfill adult desires.
Faust condemns framing adult reproductive "freedoms" as rights while overlooking children's inherent needs, like their desire for paternal presence. Children shouldn't bear the consequences of adult sexual activities outside committed relationships.
Prioritizing Children's Wellbeing in Social Policies
Faust and Jordan Peterson stress social policies must protect and promote children's natural rights and interests, including their right to their biological parents in a stable, committed heterosexual marriage - the ideal child-rearing environment.
Faust believes divorce laws should prioritize children's needs. She urges including parentally-deprived children's perspectives when discussing family issues, as they often crave the absent opposite-gender parent.
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Counterarguments
- The definition of family can be inclusive of various structures beyond the traditional model, and children can thrive in diverse family environments.
- The right to be raised by biological parents may not always be in the best interest of the child, especially in cases of abuse, neglect, or incapacity.
- Surrogacy and adoption can provide loving homes to children who might otherwise not have them, and the intent behind these practices is often to create a family, not to commodify children.
- The concept of a "primal right" to biological connections is not universally accepted and can be seen as a cultural construct rather than an inherent natural right.
- The assertion that a stable, committed heterosexual marriage is the ideal child-rearing environment is contested by research showing that children raised by same-sex couples fare just as well.
- Adult reproductive freedoms can be aligned with children's best interests when they are exercised responsibly and with consideration for the potential child's future wellbeing.
- Divorce can sometimes be more beneficial for children's wellbeing than remaining in a high-conflict or unhealthy family situation.
- The perspectives of children from diverse family backgrounds, including those raised by single parents, same-sex couples, or other non-traditional arrangements, should also be considered in discussions about family issues.
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a mentor for children in foster care to provide stable adult relationships and advocate for their rights. By becoming a mentor, you offer consistent support and guidance, helping to fill the gap left by the absence of biological parents. This role allows you to directly influence a child's development and champion their right to a stable, nurturing environment.
- Start a family book club that focuses on narratives from children who grew up in non-traditional or challenging family structures. This encourages empathy and understanding within your own family and highlights the importance of prioritizing children's rights and well-being. Through these stories, you can discuss the real-life implications of the issues raised and how to better support children's natural rights in your community.
- Create a personal code of ethics that prioritizes children's rights in your decision-making processes, especially regarding family planning and relationships. Reflect on how your choices might impact the well-being of children and commit to actions that uphold their interests. This could mean educating yourself on the effects of adult decisions on children, making a conscious effort to support policies that protect children's rights, or considering the long-term implications of your family planning choices.
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The Fundamental Rights and Interests of Children
Katy Faust is a staunch advocate for children's rights, detailing the paramount importance of placing children's inalienable rights above the desires and conveniences of adults to ensure their healthy development and the prosperity of society.
Children's Inalienable Rights Over Adult Desires
Children's right to be raised by their biological parents is a theme scrutinized by Katy Faust, as she underlines the natural right of children to their mother and father. Faust, through her work with the children's rights nonprofit Them Before Us, reinforces that adult desires should not usurp the rights of children in all matters concerning marriage and family. She explains the fundamental rights of children, including their natural right to their mother and father that exists irrespective of the adults' relationship status or reproductive challenges.
Children's Right to Biological Parents Should Prevail Over Adult Interests
Faust argues that in the context of children's rights, their well-being should not be compromised to satisfy adult wants. She underscores that no adult has a 'right' to a child, and sometimes adults must make sacrifices, including recognizing the right of children to their biological parents. She stresses that society should critique any circumstance, including those like surrogacy or instances resembling rape, where a child's right is not respected and protected.
Prioritize Children's Wellbeing in Social Policies, Even if Adults Sacrifice
She identifies adults' mislabeling of desires as rights, which too often results in separation from a mother or father, as a significant issue. Faust insists that prioritizing the rights of children to life, a family, and an unmedicalized body yields the correct decisions both personally and in policy. She notes the overwhelming consensus among social scientists that children fare best when raised by their married biological parents in a low-conflict marriage and that unrelated adults in the home increase the risk of abuse for children. The right of children to not be placed in such precarious situations must take precedence, Faust argues, over any adult claims or yearnings.
Respectin ...
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The Fundamental Rights and Interests of Children
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Counterarguments
- The definition of a "family" can be inclusive of various structures beyond the traditional model of married biological parents, and children can thrive in these diverse environments.
- The right to be raised by biological parents may not always be in the best interest of the child, especially in cases where the biological parents are abusive, neglectful, or otherwise incapable of providing a safe and loving home.
- The concept of "natural rights" to biological parents is not universally accepted and can be challenged on philosophical, ethical, and legal grounds.
- Surrogacy and other reproductive technologies can be ethically conducted and have provided the opportunity for individuals and couples to become parents when they otherwise could not, which can be in the best interest of the child when done responsibly.
- The assertion that unrelated adults in the home increase the risk of abuse does not account for the many positive outcomes of blended families, step-parents, and adoptive families.
- The emphasis on low-conflict marriages may overlook the complexities of relationships and the potential benefits of separation or divorce in high-conflict situations for the well-being of the child.
- The idea that societal well-being hinges on the strong sacrificing for the wea ...
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a mentor for children in foster care to provide stable adult relationships that support their right to a nurturing environment. By becoming a mentor, you offer consistent support and guidance, which can help mitigate the effects of not being raised by biological parents. This role allows you to be a positive influence in a child's life, advocating for their best interests in various settings, such as school meetings or court hearings.
- Start a book club focused on literature that explores the importance of children's rights and the impact of family structures on child development. This encourages informed discussions within your community and raises awareness about the significance of prioritizing children's needs. Select books that delve into the experiences of children raised in different family dynamics, and use these narratives as a springboard for conversations on how to better support children's rights in your own community.
- Create a personal policy for responsible media consumption that filters out co ...
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The Tension Between Children's Rights and Adult Desires/Interests
In a critical evaluation of societal trends, Faust suggests that adults are increasingly putting their desires ahead of children's rights, leading to negative consequences for the younger generation.
Adults Frame Desires as "Rights," Costing Children
Faust engages in a thought-provoking discussion on how adults have often cloaked self-interest or ideologically driven agendas as child protection or rights, leading to skepticism about genuine advocacy for children's rights. She suggests that children's rights need to precede adult desires—implying that adults often incorrectly reframe their desires as rights, which may infringe on children's rights.
Surrogacy Commodifies Children, Violating Their Natural Rights
Surrogacy, a particularly contentious issue, exemplifies the tension between children's rights and adult desires. Faust asserts that surrogacy commodifies children and violates their natural rights. This process often involves the intentional and commercial separation of the mother-child bond, disregarding the child's inherent rights. She criticizes the practice for forcing children to sacrifice their natural right to their mother and father so that adults can fulfill their desires.
Furthermore, Faust condemns the framing of adult desires as rights, arguing that this can override natural rights. This includes practices such as purchasing eggs, renting a womb, and not sufficiently vetting the adoptive parents, sometimes placing children with known pedophiles.
Jordan Peterson also contributes to the conversation, concerned that surrogacy could potentially violate fundamental rights, as it overlooks the complex biological interactions and natural processes that contribute to a child's rights being deeply intertwined with their biological parents.
Adult Sexual and Reproductive "Freedoms" Overlook Children's Needs
Faust addresses the emotional distress expressed by children with "dozens or hundreds of half siblings" due to their parent being a serial sperm or egg donor. Such children struggle with fundamental questions of origin and parental responsibility, a concern that is often overshadowed by the emphasis on adult reproductive choices and freedoms.
Peterson also highlights the downside of the free love revolution, explaining that it has inadvertently favored men with harmful personality traits, which is detrimental to children's upbringing and societal health. Furthermore, the civilizing effect of women setting limits in relationships implies a direct link between the personal choices of adults and the wellbeing of their offspring.
Adults Should Not Sacrifice Children’s Wellbeing For Adult Interests
The discussion signifies that there has been a political agenda to favor studies that support same-sex parenting, potentially at the detriment of recognizing the unique needs of children and the benefits of being raised by biolog ...
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The Tension Between Children's Rights and Adult Desires/Interests
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Counterarguments
- Surrogacy can be seen as a legitimate way for individuals who cannot conceive to start a family, and when done ethically, it can respect the rights and wellbeing of all parties involved, including the child.
- The commodification of children is not inherent to surrogacy; it depends on the practices and regulations in place to ensure the child's rights are protected.
- The concept of "natural rights" can be subjective and culturally specific, and some argue that a loving and supportive environment is more critical than biological connections.
- Children born through sperm or egg donation may benefit from the diversity and richness of non-traditional family structures, and not all such children experience emotional distress.
- The free love revolution has also led to greater sexual freedom and equality for women, challenging traditional norms that often restricted women's autonomy.
- Same-sex parenting studies often show that children raised by same-sex couples fare just as well as those raised by different-sex couples, suggesting that parental love and stability are more important than the gender of the parents.
- The idea that children need a paternal presence assumes a ...
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a mentor for children in foster care to provide stable adult relationships and support their emotional wellbeing. By becoming a mentor, you offer consistent guidance and attention, which can help mitigate the effects of having multiple half-siblings or the absence of a paternal figure. For example, join a local Big Brothers Big Sisters program and commit to regular outings with your mentee, focusing on their interests and providing a listening ear for any concerns they might have.
- Start a personal reflection journal to assess how your actions align with prioritizing children's needs and rights. Use this journal to critically evaluate decisions that may affect children, whether they're in your family or community. For instance, before supporting policies or practices related to surrogacy or adoption, reflect on how these might impact the rights and emotional health of children involved, and consider advocating for changes that put their wellbeing first.
- Educate yourself on the ethical imp ...
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Prioritizing Children's Wellbeing in Social Policies
Katy Faust is a vocal proponent of framing cultural, legal, and technological discussions around the benefit of children. She stresses that protecting children's interests is essential not only for their individual thriving but also for the nation's continuance. Faust and Peterson engage in discussions highlighting the need to prioritize children's natural rights and interests when forming social policies.
Protect and Promote Children's Natural Rights and Interests
Faust argues that the debate on gay marriage often sidelined the interests of children, especially in connection to parenting. She is concerned that modern family structures and reproductive technologies are inclined toward fulfilling adult desires at the expense of children’s need for their biological parents. During their discussion, Faust and Peterson emphasize the natural rights of children, which include the right to their biological parents, and suggest that social policies should reflect this principle.
Model Family Policy: Raising Children in Stable, Committed Heterosexual Marriages
Katy Faust and Jordan Peterson consider the model of stable, committed heterosexual marriages as the ideal setting for child-rearing. Faust believes that this model provides children with what they need the most: the presence of both their mother and father. She touches on the previous consensus that children fare best when raised by their married biological parents in a low-conflict marriage, arguing that neither mothers nor fathers are replaceable. Faust also refers to her work in cataloging children's experiences of loss due to adults' desires, further reinforcing the necessity for social policies that safeguard children's rights and wellbeing.
The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, as mentioned by Peterson, promotes a family policy focused on heterosexual married couples raising children. This reflects the shared belief that prioritizing children's biological rights to their mothers and fathers will ultimately benefit the entire society.
Reform Divorce Laws to Prioritize Children's Needs
While Faust does not provide specific commentary on divorce law reform within the context provided, her commitment to children’s rights suggests interest in policies that could prioritize children's needs during the divorce process. Peterson hints at exploring family policy in relation to divorce, such as the impact of no-fault divorce on children's wellbeing.
Center the Perspectives and Experiences of Parentally Deprived Children in Family and Socia ...
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Prioritizing Children's Wellbeing in Social Policies
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Counterarguments
- The definition of a "natural right" to biological parents is not universally accepted, and alternative family structures can also provide loving and supportive environments for children.
- The assertion that children fare best with married biological parents in a low-conflict marriage does not account for the diversity of family structures and the quality of parenting found in non-traditional families.
- The emphasis on heterosexual marriages may inadvertently stigmatize children raised in LGBTQ+ families, single-parent households, or other non-traditional family structures.
- The idea that mothers and fathers are irreplaceable may overlook the positive outcomes for children raised by same-sex couples, which research has shown can be as effective as heterosexual parents in providing supportive and healthy environments.
- Advocating for reforming divorce laws to prioritize children's needs is important, but it should also consider the well-being of all parties involved, including the right of adults to end unhealthy or unhappy marriages.
- The experiences of children with same-sex parents or those raised in non-traditional families should also be included in discussions, as these perspectives can provide a more comprehensive underst ...
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a mentor for children in single-parent households to provide additional adult support and guidance. By becoming a mentor through a local community center or organization, you offer a child the opportunity to form a meaningful relationship with an adult figure, which can help mitigate some of the emotional and academic challenges they may face due to parental absence.
- Start a book club focused on literature that explores family dynamics and children's well-being to raise awareness and understanding among your peers. By selecting books that delve into the experiences of children from various family backgrounds, you encourage empathetic discussions and a deeper appreciation for the importance of stable family structures.
- Advocate for child-centric considerations in ...
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