Cultures from all over the world have different views on the morality of abortion. One should be able to expect a modern industrial power like the United States to support a reasonable solution to the abortion question. Unfortunately, that is not the case. In Florida having an abortion after the 15th week of gestation is still illegal even when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
Society has a responsibility to protect its members from abuse and exploitation rather than punish them for feeling powerless in a situation, not of their choosing. The fact is, women who are raped or become pregnant as a result of incest are being pushed into a corner under Florida law.
Making abortion illegal in these circumstances only compounds the trauma experienced by victims of sexual violence. Having to carry an unwanted child to term just adds insult to injury and often results in more depression and suicide attempts. Whether it’s right or wrong, there is no denying that making abortion illegal after rape or incest causes more problems than it solves.
In Recent News, a Victim of Incest as a Child Was Denied Access to an Abortion Under Florida Law
A teenage Floridian had to travel out of the state to get an abortion after being the victim of incest. Imagine being a middle-school student and being sexually abused by a family member, impregnated, and then told that you can’t have an abortion! The insanity of the current legal environment is unreal.
To be impregnated by a family member and expected to complete the pregnancy by the State because of a ridiculous law with no real benefit to anyone is beyond unfair, it’s disturbing.
Anyone with common sense should be absolutely mortified by the fact that something like this could be happening in the state of Florida in 2022 or anywhere in the United States for that matter.
One of the most nonsensical things about the current law is that it prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy when most people don’t know they’re pregnant within the first 15 weeks. Trying to force young women to have babies that were conceived in incest is morally reprehensible. As a nation, we should all be outraged that something so horrific could be happening. By trying to force women to birth the products of rape and incest, the law is endangering them by encouraging them to stay trapped in the same horrific environment that caused the pregnancy in the first place. It encourages dependence on the same people that impregnated them against their will and sustains a dark cycle of unwanted births under terrible circumstances.
Let’s explore why it’s wrong to outlaw abortion in cases involving rape, incest, or both and why we need to make a change.
Rape and Incest Trauma Can Lead to Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD
Rape and incest are psychologically devastating experiences. Both are disturbingly common. Most of these women are too traumatized to grasp the ramifications of their situation or make a clear decision about what to do next.
When they cannot have an abortion, their distress is increased tenfold. Restricted access to abortion means they have to find money to travel to another state or find a doctor willing to break the law.
Even then, they might be turned away or exploited further. Making abortion illegal after rape or incest creates additional pressure and stress that can push people over the edge. The women experiencing such trauma are more likely to self-harm when they are in these situations.
Carrying a Child Caused by Rape or Incest Can Be Physically Harmful
Carrying a child that was conceived as a result of sexual violence carries a high risk of maternal death. This can be due to hemorrhaging, infections, or pre-eclampsia, which can be fatal.
It may be born early with a correspondingly increased risk of neonatal death and a shortened lifespan. Carrying a fetus to term may also result in premature birth, which increases the risk of brain damage in the infant.
Pregnancies Caused by Incest Tend to Be Difficult and Dangerous
Pregnancies resulting from incest tend to be difficult and dangerous. Babies conceived under these conditions have a tendency to experience serious medical problems.
Survival rates are lower, which increases the risk of serious medical and mental health problems in surviving children Babies that are born in incest also typically feature genetic abnormalities or defects that can make their lives more difficult.
Bottom line: Making Abortion Illegal Doesn’t Help Victims of Rape or Incest
At best, making abortion illegal after rape or incest just increases the trauma experienced by these women. At worst, it makes the situation even more dangerous for the women involved as they either resign themselves to raising the baby with an incestuous family member or their attacker.
Making abortion illegal after rape or incest just punishes victims of a horrible crime and exasperating a traumatic situation. It also doesn’t lower the abortion rate, but rather just forces women to travel to other countries or break the law. In summary, making abortion illegal after rape or incest just makes the situation worse for everyone involved.
Why Pregnancies Resulting From Incest Should be Terminated
If the fetus was conceived as a result of incest, it’s a near certainty that the child will also be abused by the same relative that impregnated the parent. This means that the child is extremely likely to turn out to be a victim of sexual abuse.
Making abortion illegal after incest just increases the chances of this cycle of abuse continuing. There is no reason to let a sexual predator have children. It’s unethical and unfair to everyone involved.
Making abortion illegal after rape or incest causes more problems than it solves. It just causes more trauma, stress, mental health issues, and unwanted pregnancies. Women who become pregnant as a result of incest or rape should have access to abortion. Laws that limit access to abortion are unsound, unfair, and unreasonable. It’s time to make a change before any more women are victimized.
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