Birth By Coercion?
Judy Ramsook
February 27, 2006
Abortion is and will always be a sensitive issue. Those who are for it will stick to their beliefs and those who oppose it will do the same, but when it comes to abortion being used only if a pregnant woman’s life is in danger brought about by the pregnancy of course, where does that leave the woman who is a victim of rape or incest?
By now you have heard the major arguments. There are some rape and incest victims who are against abortion.
Some of these individuals think they will better over come that act of violence by carrying and bringing their rapist’s child into the world for whatever reason, but what about those few who do not wish to have any reminders whatsoever about their rape?
If a rape victim’s life is not in danger due to her pregnancy and she does not want to bring such a child into the world, why should she have to carry that child in her womb for nine months if she's is being coerced to do so?
A child whose biological father traumatized the rape victim by committing that act of violence. Say such a victim is taken to a medical facility where the morning after pill is not available.
Or for religious reasons the doctor on duty decides not to use that particular pill. Or say the rape victim is being encouraged by others who oppose abortion to bring the child into the world, should she?
Some people might say she can give up the baby through adoption after the baby has been born, and that’s understood, but in the mean time while that woman is pregnant, how does anyone think she is going to feel everytime she gets morning sickness or looks down at her stomach. It will no doubt trigger instant memories of the rape.
The rape victim will be reliving the act all over again, and when one stops and thinks about it, is that really a healthy thing for anyone to endure? Especially if the victim does not want to endure the scene of the rape over and over again?
Similarly in the case of such an act through incest, how is that victim also supposed to cope when for at least nine months, there is a constant reminder right there in her body?
Moreover, after the child has been born and is put up for adoption, will these victims of rape and incest really feel good knowing that they have given birth to a child through such acts of violence?
No victim of rape or incest should be coerced into having her rapist’s child if she, the victim, does not want to have the child. While being traumatized during the act of rape can be hard enough to cope with, no one should have a constant reminder of that event everyday for nine months or so and there after, if the rape or incest victim does not want such a reminder, that is.
By now you have heard the major arguments. There are some rape and incest victims who are against abortion.
Some of these individuals think they will better over come that act of violence by carrying and bringing their rapist’s child into the world for whatever reason, but what about those few who do not wish to have any reminders whatsoever about their rape?
If a rape victim’s life is not in danger due to her pregnancy and she does not want to bring such a child into the world, why should she have to carry that child in her womb for nine months if she's is being coerced to do so?
A child whose biological father traumatized the rape victim by committing that act of violence. Say such a victim is taken to a medical facility where the morning after pill is not available.
Or for religious reasons the doctor on duty decides not to use that particular pill. Or say the rape victim is being encouraged by others who oppose abortion to bring the child into the world, should she?
Some people might say she can give up the baby through adoption after the baby has been born, and that’s understood, but in the mean time while that woman is pregnant, how does anyone think she is going to feel everytime she gets morning sickness or looks down at her stomach. It will no doubt trigger instant memories of the rape.
The rape victim will be reliving the act all over again, and when one stops and thinks about it, is that really a healthy thing for anyone to endure? Especially if the victim does not want to endure the scene of the rape over and over again?
Similarly in the case of such an act through incest, how is that victim also supposed to cope when for at least nine months, there is a constant reminder right there in her body?
Moreover, after the child has been born and is put up for adoption, will these victims of rape and incest really feel good knowing that they have given birth to a child through such acts of violence?
No victim of rape or incest should be coerced into having her rapist’s child if she, the victim, does not want to have the child. While being traumatized during the act of rape can be hard enough to cope with, no one should have a constant reminder of that event everyday for nine months or so and there after, if the rape or incest victim does not want such a reminder, that is.
Print
Email
