How It to Be Raped and Pregnant - Essay Example

?Raped and Pregnant Rape is defined by Natasha Tracy as “a heinous act performed when one party wishes to exact complete power and control over another.” She even further added that “rape is a forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration” (Tracy). More often than not, rape is considered as forced at the same time, unwanted. An incident can be considered as rape when a person wants to have sexual act to, on or inside the other person who is not willing or freely agreed to participate in the act. Hence, no matter how the incident happened, rape is traumatizing and horrifying. The story that was shared by my friend made me realized that being raped is something you feel as self-degrading, since the person who was raped feels like her right for being respected was taken away. One of my friends told me a story about a girl she knew who was once having a normal life, but then she became a victim. She was raped. This girl just graduated from law school. She had a perfect job, as well as a perfect family, who supports her all the way. She is also a Christian who regularly attends mass. She is a person who has a good foundation with what she believes in. Since she was raised by her parents with Christian faith and practices, she planned to wait until she gets married to do things that only married couples do. This girl has been very successful and even has high hopes for her future which includes having a family of her own. While she was doing a great job on her career, she decided to be a volunteer for a pro-life program at her place. She listens to different stories with relation to Women’s Policy. She often hears stories from women who got abused and raped. However, she insisted and made a stand on her own that abortion as an answer from any violence should not be considered as an option. With her stand, she met new friends and few enemies. While having a vacation for a few months on her cousin’s place. She met a guy who also graduated from law school. This is mainly the reason why the girl instantly liked him. The fact that they are both Christians, the girl trusted him easily. While she found him perfect and charming, the girl still has doubts. Every time they go out, the guy always made her a mixture of apple juice and ginger ale. One thing she noticed though, every time she drinks the mixture, she often loses her focus and just got tired all the time. However, she trusted the guy so she never questioned him. According to my friend, the girl eventually became close with the guy, and that is the time that her beliefs were tested. There were times when she allowed the guy to stay at her apartment. This was when she realized that there is something wrong every time she fell asleep. She woke up the next morning having a bad feeling. The doctor did confirm to her that she was drugged for months by her boyfriend. On the other hand, the doctor also explained that she was pregnant. Now, she realized that she was raped. The doctor informed her that she does not need to keep the baby and promoted abortion as an option. When the girl knew that she was pregnant, she went directly to her family and informed what happened. Some of her friends and colleagues who attend mass regularly with her advised that she needs to have an abortion because she does not want the child in the first place. When she seeks for an advise from her parents, her parents just assured her that no matter what her decisions may be, they will be there to support her. Hence, giving her the confusion and total freedom to make the decision of aborting the baby or having the baby. Abortion was an easy answer for many people since she was raped. After hearing advices, she could not believe what other people were saying because those people are the ones who consider themselves as pro-life. While the girl is suffering and got physically sick because of body changes due to being pregnant, she decided to continue the pregnancy. She could not imagine herself killing her own child. She accepted the fact that she will be a mother from a rape incident. The girl’s family supported her all the way. Obviously, with her unfailing faith, she pursued the pregnancy well. As what my friend told me that the girl is now married to another guy whom she met at the church. The guy knew her story but despite all of it, she was accepted. Rape happens every time sexual intercourse took place without the other person’s consent (Tracy). Furthermore, getting pregnant because a person was raped is another issue. Most people would easily put criminal charges to the rapist. However, when a person got pregnant because of it, another decision should be considered. It is a situation wherein a person who was raped needs to decide whether to continue the pregnancy and have the baby or just go for abortion. Nowadays, abortion is legally accepted in some countries. Even those who got pregnant but is not ready to be a mother typically goes for abortion. People already consider abortion as an answer to an unwanted pregnancy, which is basically one option if a person was raped. However, having a baby from rape is another decision that the rape victim must also consider. Choosing to continue the pregnancy and have the baby is what our faith and beliefs taught us. On the other hand, having the baby or aborting it still depends on the victim’s decision, though judging her is easy to make. Aborting the baby can make the victim’s life look normal, but the assurance of having the same innocent feeling is out of the box. There will be instances that the person will feel guilty of taking the life of her own child. That person will never be the same person as she was. Having the baby, on the other hand, would be very sacrificial on the victim’s part. It is not easy to bear a child if you are not ready to be a mother. Hence, every baby has a soul and has the right to be born. However, the decision will always be in the hands of the victim. Thus, it is still important to value life. Work Cited Tracy, Natasha. “What is Rape? Was I Raped?” Healthyplace. Healthyplace, 28 July 2012. Web. 6 March, 2013 Read More