Without the union of man and woman, society would cease to exist. Yes, a dystopian society like that of Aldous Huxley’s World State could use artificial wombs for reproduction, but a healthy democracy (one we’re apt to prefer) depends upon the mutual love and compromise of man and woman in lifelong marriage, and their willingness to set high personal standards for the good of their children.
Children Are Society’s Hope
The best outcomes for children come from this arrangement, not only because they have both male and female examples in the home, but because the obligations needed for a successful marriage also apply to parenting. In this way, the love of a man and woman is ultimately directed toward the good of the children who depend upon them. Nuclear family life done well not only tends to boost academic performance, mental and physical well-being for children, but has an outward ripple effect into the community to which they belong – the families they’ve united through marriage, the neighborhoods they reside in, and the parents’ groups they join. Consequently, the best measure of a society’s laws, regulations, and culture would be the good of its children.
Our Culture is a Reflection of Our Attitude Towards Children
A healthy society seeks to meet the needs of children as well as protect their innocence. Unfortunately, with the loss of the true meaning of marriage and a proper understanding of the sexes comes the increased sexualization of children. Between the pornography industry, a hyper-sexualized media culture, gender ideology, and explicit “comprehensive” sex-ed, parents are increasingly at a loss to defend their children’s innocence against those who seek to prey upon their impressionability. Now more than ever, parents should be given the opportunities and the resources to make careful choices about schooling and formation. Yet, there is an increasing push to prevent parents from opting out of wrongheaded and offensive curricula; from shielding their kids from violating images and dangerous ideas on social media; and from inquiring after sound medical advice from professionals who have their kids’ best interests at heart. These natural parental prerogatives should not be ignored, since parents know their kids better than the state, better than local and online communities, and better than extended family members. And they want the best for them.
Our Duty to Protect the Innocent
There are plenty of adult victims of our hyper-sexualized culture, who have endured addictions, abuse, and years of mental health issues as a result. But more victims will be found in the next generation – children who grow up without a first line of defense against a dark, twisted world will feel the lingering traumas of violation and exploitation for years to come. Luckily, the beautiful and generative nature of male and female is engraved in everyone – even those damaged by gender ideology, bruised by sexual abuse, and scarred by pornography. We should continue to proclaim the truth about sexes even in the midst of individual and cultural brokenness, honoring the minds and bodies of children by refusing laws and ideologies which violate their innocence.