I’m 15 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. I’m also young (18), so this wasn’t planned or expected. When my boyfriend’s parents found out, they asked for a paternity test. On my parents’ advice, I agreed to it. Even though I have nothing to hide, it still felt humiliating.
Because society has decided that we need to shame women for everything they do. Particularly as related to sex.
On the one hand, a paternity test is pretty reasonable, especially at a young age where it can have massive implications.
On the other hand, they are often weaponised to use as accusatory slut-shaming.
The only thing you did wrong was maybe not being careful enough, but God knows we’ve all been there, and it’s always possible even if you are very careful.
Best of luck and most importantly, keep your head high.
If there’s families and non-independent kids involved, a paternity test is just a way to set tje record straight, depending on how it’s handled, there could be no judgement. Remember that you know the truth, but others don’t, and you can always be sure of who is the mother, but not the father, and this is biological.
It doesn’t have to be about shaming. You obviously know who the mother is but the father isnt definitive until a test and with such a serious situation it’s always good to be certain.
No-one is saying that this particular request is intended to be shaming. The issue is that regardless of the intention, OP feels humiliated.
The question was
The answer is that instead of society normalising it as a rational request, it’s often used as a weapon against women. Sucks for both parties honestly. It would be better for everyone if a paternity test was a legal requirement to add a man to any birth certificate.