LogFAQs > #980112205

ParanoidObsessive posted...

It's probably more the mindset that "Women obviously want kids because maternal instinct", with the assumption that if you're denying you ever want kids you're just young and confused and will change your mind eventually. So there's always an implied "You're going to regret this decision" if you choose to have an irreversible method of birth control when you're "too young to know what you really want".

It's still sexist, just a different flavor of sexism.

That's why the opposition exists in the first place, but specifically requiring their husbands' permissions is just outright stating "it's only okay for you to not want kids if your husband also doesn't want kids." While I would generally say that sterilization is a decision that should be discussed between partners and a consensus should be reached before going ahead with it (whether that consensus is being okay with sterilization or divorcing because it's an irreconcilable dealbreaker), asking the husband for permission is quite overtly treating the woman as his property.