The Elliot Institute News
From the Leader in Post-Abortion Research
Vol. 6, No. 7 -- May 16, 2007
Visit us online:
http://www.AfterAbortion.Info
IN THIS ISSUE:
Rape, Incest and Abortion:
Searching Beyond the Myths
Editor's Note: The following is
excerpted from the book Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their
Pregnancies, Abortions, and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault. For
ordering information, visit
www.unchoice.info/resources.htm or call 1-888-412-2676.
"How can you deny an abortion to a
twelve-year-old girl who is the victim of incest?" "How can you call yourself a
loving Christian if you would force a victim of violent rape to give birth to a
rapist's child?"
Every pro-lifer has heard these same
challenges in one form or another. These emotionally charged questions are
usually used in an attempt to prove that pro-lifers are either (1) insensitive
"fetus lovers" who don't care about women, or (2) ethically inconsistent,
allowing abortion for some circumstances but not for others.
Unfortunately, most pro-lifers have
difficulty answering these challenges because the issue is so widely
misunderstood. Typically, both sides of the debate accept the presumption that
most women who become pregnant following sexual assault want abortions. From
this "fact," it naturally follows that the reason women want abortions in these
cases is because it will help them to put the assault behind them, recover more
quickly, and avoid the additional "trauma" of giving birth to a "rapist's
child."
But in fact, the welfare of a mother
and her child are never at odds, even in sexual assault cases. As the
testimonies of many women confirm, both the mother and the child are helped by
preserving life, not by perpetuating violence. Sadly, however, the testimonies
of women who have actually been pregnant through sexual assault are routinely
left out of this public debate. Most people, including sexual assault victims
who have never been pregnant, are therefore forming opinions based on their own
prejudices and fears rather than the real life experiences of those people who
have been in this difficult situation and reality.
For example, it is commonly assumed
that rape victims who become pregnant would naturally want abortions. But in the
only major study of pregnant rape victims ever done prior to this book, Dr.
Sandra Mahkorn found that 75 to 85 percent chose against abortion. This figure
is remarkably similar to the 73 percent birth rate found in our sample of 164
pregnant rape victims. This one finding alone should cause people to pause and
reflect on the presumption that abortion is wanted or even best for sexual
assault victims.
Further, in our survey of 192 women
who became pregnant through rape or incest, nearly 80 percent of the woman who
had abortions said that abortion had not been a good solution and usually caused
more harm than good. Of those who did give birth, none reported that they
regretted continuing the pregnancy or expressed a wish that they had had an
abortion instead.
Adding Fuel to the Fire
Most people assume that abortion will
at least help a rape victim put the assault behind her and get on with her life.
But in jumping to this conclusion, the public has adopted an unrealistic view of
abortion.
Abortion is not some magical surgery
which turns back the clock to make a woman "un-pregnant." Instead, it is a real
life event which is always very stressful and often traumatic. Once we accept
that abortion is itself an event with deep ramifications on a woman's life, then
we must look carefully at the special circumstances of the pregnant sexual
assault victim. Will having an abortion truly help her, or will it only cause
further injury to her already bruised psyche?
In answering this question, it is
helpful to begin by noting that many women report that their abortions felt like
a degrading form of "medical rape." This association between abortion and rape
is not hard to understand.
Abortion involves a painful intrusion
into a woman's sexual organs by a masked stranger who is invading her body. Once
she is on the operating table, she loses control over her body. If she protests
and asks the abortionist to stop, chances are she will be either ignored or
told: "It's too late to change your mind. This is what you wanted. We have to
finish now." And while she lies there tense and helpless, the life hidden within
her is literally sucked out of her womb. In both sexual and medical rape, a
woman is violated and robbed. In the case of sexual rape she is robbed of her
purity. In the case of medical rape via abortion, she is robbed of her
maternity.
For many women this experiential
association between abortion and sexual assault is very strong. It is especially
strong for women who have a prior history of sexual assault, whether or not the
aborted child was conceived during an act of assault. This is just one reason
why women with a history of sexual assault are likely to experience greater
distress during and after an abortion than are other women.
Second, research shows that after any
abortion, it is common for women to experience guilt, depression, feelings of
being "dirty," resentment of men, and lowered self-esteem. These feelings are
identical to what women typically feel after rape. Abortion, then, only adds to
and accentuates the traumatic feelings associated with sexual assault. Rather
than easing the psychological burdens of the sexual assault victim, abortion
adds to them.
This was the experience of Jackie,
who reports: "I soon discovered that the aftermath of my abortion continued a
long time after the memory of my rape had faded. I felt empty and horrible.
Nobody told me about the pain I would feel deep within causing nightmares and
deep depressions. They had all told me that after the abortion I could continue
my life as if nothing had happened."1
Those encouraging abortion often do
so because they are uncomfortable dealing with sexual assault victims, or
perhaps because they harbor some prejudice against victims whom they feel "let
it happen." Wiping out the pregnancy is a way of hiding the problem. It is a
"quick and easy" way to avoid dealing with the woman's true emotional, social
and financial needs.
Kathleen, whose son Patrick was
conceived in rape when she was 16, writes,
"I, having lived through rape, and
also having raised a child "conceived in rape," feel personally assaulted and
insulted every time I hear that abortion should be legal because of rape and
incest. I feel that we're being used by pro-abortionists to further the abortion
issue, even though we've not been asked to tell our side of the story."
Trapping the Incest Victim
The case against abortion for incest
pregnancies is even stronger. Studies show that incest victims rarely ever
voluntarily agree to abortion. Instead of viewing the pregnancy as unwanted, the
incest victim is more likely to see the pregnancy as a way out of the incestuous
relationship because the birth of her child will expose the sexual activity. She
is also likely to see in her pregnancy the hope of bearing a child with whom she
can establish a truly loving relationship, one far different than the exploitive
relationship in which she has been trapped.
But while the incest victim may
treasure her pregnancy because it offers her the hope of release from her
situation, it poses a threat to the man who is exploiting her. It is also poses
a threat to the pathological secrecy which may envelop other members of the
family who are afraid to acknowledge the abuse. Because of this dual threat, the
victim may be coerced into an unwanted abortion by both the abuser and other
family members.
For example, Edith, a 12-year-old
victim of incest impregnated by her stepfather, writes twenty-five years after
the abortion of her child:
"Throughout the years I have been
depressed, suicidal, furious, outraged, lonely, and have felt a sense of loss .
. . The abortion which was to "be in my best interest" just has not been. As far
as I can tell, it only 'saved their reputations,' 'solved their problems,' and
'allowed their lives to go merrily on.' . . . My daughter, how I miss her so. I
miss her regardless of the reason for her conception."
Abortion providers who routinely ignore this evidence and neglect to interview
minors presented for abortion for signs of coercion or incest are actually
contributing to the victimization of young girls. Not only are they robbing the
victim of her child, they are concealing a crime, abetting a perpetrator, and
handing the victim back to her abuser so that the exploitation can continue.
Finally, we must recognize that
children conceived through sexual assault also deserve to have their voices
heard. Rebecca Wasser-Kiessling, who was conceived in a rape, is rightfully
proud of her mother's courage and generosity and wisely reminds us of a
fundamental truth that transcends biological paternity: "I believe that God
rewarded my birth mother for the suffering she endured, and that I am a gift to
her. The serial rapist is not my creator; God is."
Similarly, Julie Makimaa, who works
diligently against the perception that abortion is acceptable or even necessary
in cases of sexual assault, proclaims, "It doesn't matter how I began. What
matters is who I will become."
That's a slogan we can all live with.
1. David C. Reardon,
Aborted Women, Silent No More (Chicago, IL: Loyola University Press,
1987), 206.
~~~
For more information on sexual
assault pregnancy and abortion, see our free downloadable booklet,
"Hard Cases: New Facts.
New Answers" (pdf file).
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12 Ways to Help
Spread the Unchoice Message
#7: Write a Letter to the
Editor
18If Americans knew
the truth about unwanted, misinformed or forced abortions ... they would not
push women to abort or deny them the opportunity to heal. Millions still suffer
in the wake of a procedure that was never safe ... never just ... and never
about free or fully informed choices.
Americans have been kept in the dark and many unwittingly push their daughters,
wives, sisters or friends into unwanted and dangerous abortions. Meanwhile,
countless women who have lived the abortion nightmare are resorting to despair
or even suicide. It is urgent that we educate others about abortion's injustice
and danger to everyone involved. With your help, we can stop others from pushing
abortion in lieu of authentic choices and offer renewed hope and healing to
women, men and families hurt by abortion.
Below is just one
way you can help this important effort. To see the complete list of 12 Ways to
Help, click here.
7. Write a Letter to the Editor
This is a highly effective way to educate the public
and influence legislators about the injustice of
coerced abortion, abortion-related abuses, risks and
trauma.
Click
here for examples of compelling letters that you
can use "as is" or modify.
Keep an eye on current events and use an item in the
news as a well-timed reminder to raise awareness of post-abortion
issues and the urgent need for compassion and healing,
as well as the oppression of women by coerced
abortion and censorship.
For example:
Mother's Day – can be difficult for those
suffering post-abortion grief
Father's Day – abortion hurts men, too
National Depression Screening Awareness (October) –
abortion linked to clinical depression and
suicide, urgent crisis, hope and healing are
possible
National Eating Disorders Awareness
Week (Feb 26-Mar 4)
See
PR Calendar for
other ideas and tie-ins to national events
Don’t forget to
sign up for
our email list so we can notify you immediately when
there is such a "news peg," for example, newly published
research, screening tests, free posters, etc. You can also check the
PR calendar for additional news tie-ins. These
dates are also a good time to run associated ads.
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Low-Cost/No-Cost Uses
for the Unchoice Ads and Educational Materials
#3: Distribute Ads and Fact Sheets as
Flyers
You can help spread the Unchoice message by using
our ads and educational materials -- even on a very limited or non-existent
budget! Here is just one way you can spread the word. Click
here to see other low-cost/no-cost ideas.
2. Speak to groups, or schedule a speaker, video or prayer service. Hand out materials or folders with selected ads and fact sheets.
Simply schedule and introduce a video, speaker or prayer vigil and hand out
materials like our
list of free
downloadable resources, the
Coerced
Abortion Flyer, a list of ways to help, or other
fact sheets and
ads. Use your local civic or
church group, or other venue. Use small ads and bulletin inserts and send press
releases to your local news outlets, and elsewhere promoting the event.
Invite a member of a post-abortion ministry to speak
To find a speaker in your area, refer to local post-abortion counseling
ministries or to our
healing page for national
organizations that can refer you to nearby affiliates, leaders and participants
who are willing to speak to groups.
Use the radio and TV ads
Consider opening your talk or event with an UnChoice
TV or
radio ad to capture attention and to tell people about
the campaign/outreach and materials. For further ideas, watch for our speech
outline and Power Point slides, coming soon, and other new information at
www.UnChoice.info.
Refer people to
www.UnChoice.info often, and distribute
the
Free Resources
promotional flyer to others who are willing to help.
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Announcements
New
Book of Stories Offers Hope ... Special One-Day Promotion Offered May 16
Barbara Horak
has put together an anthology of true stories by fourteen post-abortive women
and one man. In Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and The Healing,
the story contributors from ten states tell how they lived through the
devastating consequences of abortion. They tell how they found healing and peace
and how you (or someone close to you) can, too.
The book is available on Amazon.com for $7.95. As a special promotion, buyers
who order the book today, May 16, will receive bonus gifts:
-
From Peggy McColl: An
excerpt from her latest bestselling book, Your Destiny Switch.
-
From Dr. Wilson Grant,
M.D.: A subscription to BECOMING-THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH NEWSLETTER.
-
From David Riklan: His
41-page ebook, The Top 501 Inspirational Quotes of All Time.
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From Leslie Graves: A
10-page article, "How you can find hope, help and healing after abortion." A
guide to the kind of help that is available.
-
From Randy Gilbert, a.k.a.
Dr. Proactive: A bundle of gifts including his 136-page ebook,
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To get the
complete details, go directly to
www.RealAbortionStories.com/specialoffer.
(Or go to
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Find out more about Elliot Institute books and resources at
www.unchoice.info/resources.htm.
To place an order, call Acorn Books at 1-888-412-2676.
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