Abortion: Why do people consider an abortion after rape O.K., but otherwise it is not?

Question

Seriously, I dont understand this.

If aborting a fetus is considered murdering a human being, than how is it justifiable to murder a fetus simply becuase the mother was raped?

If it is a living human being at conception, isnt it ammoral AND even worse than murder to kill it simply because the mother didnt know the father and went through an extremely traumatic experience conceiving the baby?

If an abortion is murder, isnt it a murder regardless of the situation regarding the conception? Is it fair to murder a living person just to save anotherr person from 9 months of anguish, when the ycan put it up for adoption?

I dont understand this seeminly contradictory stance on abortion, someone want to explain?

Oh, and lastly, I am pro chocie and think all abortions should be legal in the first two trimesters, I jsut dont understand how one can be considered murder and the other not.

I understand that the mother doesnt want it and others may not want to adopt it. But my point is, isnt murder murder?

First, I would like to thank eveyone who has answered this question, many were thought out and the honesty is impressive.

Second, I do not in any way condone rape or mean to belittle the effects of rape. I have has some close friends who were raped and so have witnessed the effectsthis can have on a person.

The object of this quesiton was more of a philosophical one based on some answers to an abortion questioned asked earlier.

I completely understand why a rape victim, incest victim, etc. would not even want to consider keeping the child. Bearing the child to term can be considered adding insult to injury (I'd say its more of Injury to Injury).

I was just pointing out what I see as an inconsistancy is some answers to a previous question some posted.

Once again, thank you everyone for answering

Answer 1

EXCELLENT question. I look forward to some well thought out and logical answers that address the contradictions you pose. So far, there are none.

Answer 2

Not all cultures view abortion as murder and not all cultures consider conception a life form. The Japanese for example believe that life begins at birth. They do not consider a miscarriage as a loss of life as an example.

Depending on the culture, there are many varied conceptions surrounding abortion.

One could argue that a forced life is not life, such as a rape. Others could argue that the unborn child (fetus) experiences the same pain as the mother. If the mother is in extreme emotional turmoil during the pregnancy, then those feelings will affect the unborn child, and thus creating what is scientifically known as Detached Syndrome.

Others have also proven that childen that are the prodigy of rape are far more likely to be abused than a child conceived of love and want. Unconscioulsy the mother abuses the child as a way to punish the rapist.

Abortion is not considered murder to many cultures. We in America are far more protective of the unborn than some other countries, but the main reason a woman does not have to complete a raped pregnancy is her choice and that is protected under our constitution. We all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

As a rape survivor, I thank God I was never impregnated. I do know how much anger and hostility are involved in the healing process and I could not even begin to imagine how I would have coped with the stress of deciding on whether to abort or adopt out a rape baby.

Answer 3

First let me start off by saying I am Pro-Life. So what I am about to write is my personal opinion.

Abortion is murder, regardless of the situation. Borning a child that is the result of a rape would be a burden on the mother, but it is not the innocent child's fault. If the mother cannot mentally accept the child than the option of adoption is there.

I have always thought, and have told my daughter, in the situation of a rape, you should immediately, if at all possible, go to a hospital. The law authorities will be called in at the hospital. Immediately request the "rape pill or morning after pill"... which is as most people know, a pill that forces the body to have a menstrual cycle, thus stopping the process of conception.

Although, it is easy for me, and everyone else answering to render an opinion if we haven't been in this situation.

Edit No. 1: I really take offense to people who strongly opine against Pro Lifers. If you can so vehemently voice your Pro Choice opinions I voice my Pro-Life opinions... it is just that.. my opinion. And I would never say "kill the mother that kills the child".....

Also .. SUPER GREAT question

Answer 4

I am also pro choice when it comes to a woman having an abortion. I actually went on here to ask should I get an abortion because I just found out I am pregnant by the guy who raped me.

First of all, I can not think of having a child who was conceived from hate, and anger, and I do not think I will be strong enough to love the child like they should be. Yes, some people say have the child, and then give it up for adoption.

After the first kick I fall crazy in love with my child, being the reason why giving him or her would be impossible. I wish I knew that I could honestly look at my baby, and not think of hate. Not think of the night that I was abducted, beat, raped, then beat again, and left for death.

I am struggling being the best mother I can be to my child I already have after this incident. I am depressed, and I feel myself slipping deeper. I go to therapy, and even group session, but nothing seems to help.

If I convince myself that I am strong enough to have, keep, protect, and love my child, I would not have an abortion. But only if I am sure, I do not want to be one of them mom who fall off the deep end, and never come back. I can not be the mom who snap and hurt her babies. I love my son, and I need to get stronger for him, and right now I do not see how having my baby would help us.

Answer 5

Well I know a couple of moms whos babies were concieved because of rape and both those moms are glad they had their babies because the innocent child was a joy for them and helped them in their healing. I think abortion is murder no matter how you got pregnant. I am not pro choice at all but I do feel if abortion is made illegal then young girls will be dieing as well because they will go to some back ally person that doesnt know what they are doing and get an infection or try using a coathanger like way back when. Sadly I think it is a no win situation legal or illegal. Just my opinion don't shoot me for it!!! Fact is though that abortion is used more as a oops I made a misake thing. Use bc for goodness sakes or dont have sex unless you can responsible. How much of our tax dollars of ours is being used to help irresponsible teens and woman to go to the free clinics to get rid of their mistake?

Answer 6

Yes, murder is murder, not matter what the circumstances. However, in a case of rape, you have to think about the mother and put her feelings first. First she is traumatized by a brutal act of violence, which rape is, then forced to have the child of her rapist?? That's adding insult to injury. A woman should have control over her own body and life first and foremost. To take that away would be de-humanizing. She may ultimately have to answer for the life of her unborn child, but the rapist is even more responsible for destroying two lives.

Answer 7

Pro life people consider it all murder. Next they will tell us that men who masturbate should be put in jail for murder because of all the sperm cells (potential life) wasted every time the act is performed. In fact at conception when the sperm breaks through the egg, it creates so much heat that it KILLS the rest of the sperm, so the fetus should be arrested upon birth for the murder of the other sperm. Or should we just blame God since he made us this way? The only answer is that the person who has to carry the baby for 9 months, gets to make the decision. How can you force a girl/woman to go through with an unwanted pregnancy? I have children and I love them more than my own life but I would never force anyone to have my children.

Answer 8

When I was in High School we watched a movie called "A silent Scream." It shows how a fetus actually cries and opens it's mouth as if to scream while it's being aborted. It is murder, regardless of when in the pregnancy you abort. God says that a child is a child from the moment of conception. Partial birth abortions are even more disgusting, they crack the baby's skull and suck the brain out AFTER partially delivering the baby. Murder is murder. Just because you abort a baby, it doesn't make you "unpregnant", it makes you the mother of a dead baby.

Answer 9

I think it's because the mother has no say in rape. Typically a rapist doesn't use contraception, but otherwise (for example, if you got pregnant at 16, which is another situation that often calls for an abortion) the mother is able to say "Hey, put a condom on!" and thus avoid the issue of abortion altogether.

That being said, I agree with you on most accounts, and I am pro-choice also.

Answer 10

I'm sorta a bit half and half on this issue as well, because although I believe its a woman's right to choose I also believe thats its murder and I'm against it. So I'm divided... I think that the reasoning behind having an abortion after rape is ok because having to go through that experience is tramatic enough and then having to birth ur attackers baby 9 months later is beyond tramatic. Although both is murder, its much easier for any one of us to see the reasoning behind a rape victims abortion apposed to someone going out having unprotected sex and having an abortion every couple of months.

Answer 11

I like a lot of the answers here too, and I think they say it better than I could so all I want to do now is point out that your analogy is clever, but deceitful. The innocent bystander, for one, would have to be a result of the robber and would have to somehow be connected then for life as a dependant to the cop. The bystander would also have to be scientifically unconcious and a collection of a few cells. Or of course the cop could be a defensless woman who was scarred for life. Or the cop could have no justice or retribution knowing the robber got away for the rest of his life while leaving the cop with a decision that defines his own existence. Basically your argument is just a terrible missappropriation.