The topic of castration has, reasonably so, been a controversial conversation for many years. Recently, it has been talked about more than ever. According to the National Cancer Institute, castration is defined as the “removal or destruction of the testicles or ovaries using radiation, surgery, or drugs.” The process eliminates almost all production of the hormone testosterone. Because of this, the alteration can be used in many ways. Common uses of the procedure include health reasons like prostate or testicular cancer and to prevent mating, but recently, new discoveries have been made.
Contraceptives have become much more popular and accepted in today’s day and age. Plan B, IUDs, condoms, and Nexplanon are a few of the most common. Notice how three out of these four protectants are made for women. In fact, most forms of birth control are targeted towards females. Many contraceptives are extremely hard on people’s hormones and emotions. It’s upsetting that the standard is for the woman to partake in these actions, rather than the man in a relationship.
Louisiana is now mandating surgical castration to be served as a punishment for sex-related crimes. Many other places in the U.S. have already allowed it, but the “Baton Rouge” state is the first to force it on their convicts. This procedure would be performed on those who have molested children under the age of thirteen. Because this law is quite extreme, it has been revoked by Oregon and Georgia and ruled unlawful by South Carolina. Several lawyers have also claimed that it violates the US Constitution’s “no cruel and unusual punishments” law as well. George Annas, the director of Boston University’s Center for Health Law, Ethics, and Human Rights is one of those prosecutors. he said.
I personally think that the true “cruel and unusual punishment” is the sexual assault of a child. And while I do think that child predators should face harsher consequences, I am unsure whether it should go as far as forcing castration. I understand that the true tragedy is the child who has suffered the trauma of being assaulted, but I do not think that this new law is the right way of punishing. It does not prevent assault because the crime has already been committed.
I strongly believe that every person should be able to choose what is right for their body. If the criminal chooses to or does not pursue the alteration, that is their choice. Louisiana seems to have many opinions on what people should do with their bodies. With a complete ban on abortion and a command of castration, they think controlling others is a great way to improve the country. This is the exact opposite of what I believe in. Let’s say a man rapes and impregnates a 13-year-old girl in the state of Louisiana. Because of the abortion ban, this young child has lost her right to terminate this clump of cells that she did not ask to be put there. This man will be forced to be castrated, but what does this change about the girl who suffered from this person’s actions? Nothing. Therefore, I think that this law isn’t useful because it doesn’t impact the victim in any way.
It is unfortunate that these sorts of acts will continue to happen, but hopefully, we can eventually reach an answer to stop it. I do not think that this will be the way to do that though. Maybe there won’t ever be a way to end it completely, but we can only wish for the best.
