Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

From The Elliott Institute:

Abortion and Sexual Assault

Information for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Many people, including
those whose mission is to help women and girls who are victims of
sexual assault and abuse, believe abortion is the best solution
if a pregnancy occurs. Yet our research shows that most women who
become pregnant through sexual assault don't want abortion, and
say abortion only compounds their trauma.

This edition of the Elliot Institute News highlights common
misconceptions and tells the stories of women who've been there.
We encourage you to share this information with others who may
have questions about this issue.

Also, this month we are offering 25% off our book Victims and
Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies, Abortions and
Children Resulting From Sexual Assault. This eye-opening
book, based on the experiences of women who've been there,
reveals the seldom-heard truth: that most women pregnant
from sexual assault don't want abortions. Get a copy for yourself
or to donate to your local library, pregnancy center, church or
other organization. To learn more about the book, and how to
order, go to http://www.theunchoice.com/victimsandvictors.htm.

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Rape, Incest and Abortion
Searching Beyond the Myths

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“How can you deny an abortion to a twelve-year-old girl who is the
victim of incest?”

Typically, people on both sides of the abortion debate accept the
premise that most women who become pregnant through 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 stories of many women
have confirmed, 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. Many people, including sexual assault victims who
have never been pregnant, may be 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 did not have abortions.
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.1

Several reasons were given for not aborting. Many women who become
pregnant through rape do not believe in abortion, believing it
would be a further act of violence perpetrated against their
bodies and their children. Further, many believe that their
children’s lives may have some intrinsic meaning or purpose which
they do not yet understand. This child was brought into their
lives by a horrible, repulsive act. But perhaps God, or fate,
will use the child for some greater purpose. Good can come from
evil.

The woman may also sense, at least at a subconscious level, that
if she can get through the pregnancy she will have conquered the
rape. By giving birth, she can reclaim some of her lost self-
esteem. Giving birth, especially when conception was not desired,
is a totally selfless act, a generous act, a display of courage,
strength, and honor. It is proof that she is better than the
rapist. While he was selfish, she can be generous. While he
destroyed, she can nurture.

Adding to the Trauma

Many people assume that abortion will at least help a rape victim
put the assault behind her and get on with her life. But evidence
shows that 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 for a woman’s life, then we must look
carefully at the special circumstances of the pregnant sexual
assault victim. Evidence indicates that abortion doesn't help and
only causes further injury to an already bruised psyche.

But before we even get to this issue, we must ask: do most
women who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault want to
abort?

Continue reading at
http://www.afterabortion.org/articles/rapebeyondthemyths.htm

~~~

Learn more: See the book Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About
their Pregnancies, Abortions and Children Resulting From Sexual
Assault at http://www.theunchoice.com/victimsandvictors.htm

Educate others: Download and share our free Hard Cases: New
Facts, New Answers fact sheet at
http://www.theunchoice.com/pdf/OnePageFactSheets/HardCasesSheet1.pdf

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What the Research Says

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— Victims and Victors Survey Says Most Don’t Want Abortions;
Only Adds to Trauma

There has been very little research conducted to date on the
experiences of women who became pregnant as a result of rape or
incest. One survey was conducted by the Elliot Institute for our
book, Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies,
Abortions and Children Resulting From Sexual Assault.

Our survey was based on letters and survey responses of 192
women who became pregnant as a result of rape or incest. 164 were
victims of rape and 28 were victims of incest (sexual assault
involving a family member). Overall, 69 percent continued the
pregnancy and either raised the child or made an adoption plan,
29 percent had abortions and 1.5 percent had miscarriages. 

* Nearly 80 percent of the women who aborted the pregnancy
reported that abortion had been the wrong solution.

* Most women who had abortions said that abortion only increased
the trauma they were experiencing.

* In many cases, the victim faced strong pressure or demands to
abort. 43 percent of rape victims who aborted said they felt
pressured or were strongly directed by family members or health
workers to abort.

* In almost every case where an incest victim had an abortion, it
was the girl’s parents or the perpetrator who made the decision
and arrangements for the abortion, not the girl herself. In
several cases, the abortion was carried out against her expressed
wishes, and in a few cases, without her knowledge that she was
pregnant or that an abortion was taking place.

* More than 80 percent of the women who carried their pregnancies
to term said that they were happy that they had continued the
pregnancy.

* None of the women who gave birth to a child conceived in sexual
assault expressed regret or wished they had aborted instead.1

Further, studies that examine risk factors
(www.afterabortion.org/riskfactors.html) for psychological
problems after abortion women with a history of sexual assault or
abuse are more likely to have difficulty coping after abortion.

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Learn more: For a more detailed account of the survey results,
see the book Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their
Pregnancies, Abortions and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault
at http://www.theunchoice.com/victimsandvictors.htm.

Educate others: Download and share our free Hard Cases: New
Facts, New Answers at http://www.theunchoice.com/pdf/OnePageFactSheets/
HardCasesSheet1.pdf

Citations

1. Reardon, Makimaa %26 Sobie, Victims and Victors: Speaking Out
About Their Pregnancies, Abortions and Children Resulting from
Sexual Assault (Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 2000) 19-22.

See this article online at
http://www.afterabortion.org/articles/victimssurvey.html

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I Felt I Had No Other Choice
Helene's Story

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My sexual assault was what has been titled date or acquaintance
rape. My freshman year of college I was dating a young man who I
had met that previous summer. We had talked about what we believed
in and he knew my convictions about saving sex for my husband.

Yet after a few months of dating he became impatient with waiting
and forced himself on me against my protest. After the assault I
blamed myself for letting it happen; I felt it was my fault and
that I could have somehow avoided it. I did not realize until much
later that it was a rape. I was scared of him; therefore, I did
not tell anyone what had happened.

Two months later I realized I was pregnant. A fear gripped me like
none I had ever known. My head was spinning, my heart was pounding,
and I was alone and terrified. Where could I go? Who could I tell?
My parents would kill me. How could I explain how it happened? It
was already August and I would be returning to college in only a
few weeks. I had to find help quickly.

Not knowing where to go for help, I went to the phone book, found
the first place that offered pregnancy testing and counseling and
made an appointment. I was looking for someone who could give me
direction and guidance. Unfortunately the only option that was
offered by the counselor was abortion.

Continue reading at
http://www.theunchoice.com/UnChoiceStories/abortiondoesnothelp.htm

~~~

Learn more: Read other stories from women who've been there in
Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies,
Abortions and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault
at http://www.theunchoice.com/victimsandvictors.htm".

See article on web site at
http://www.theunchoice.com/UnChoiceStories/feltnootherchoice.htm

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Resources on Abortion and Sexual Assault

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Books

Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies,
Abortions and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault at
www.theunchoice.com/victimsandvictors.htm

Sale! Starting tomorrow, April 6, get 25% off on Victims and
Victors. Sale price good until April 30. To order, call
1-888-412-2676. Be sure to mention the April sale.