“Classifying aborting women as victims is condescending. It portrays women as being naive and not responsible decision makers.”
- Abortion is not a “responsible decision.” Killing an innocent child is always irresponsible.
- This idea has been promulgated by media pundits.
Jodie T. Allen, Deputy Editor of The Washington Post “Out-look” section has lamented that a new, negative “feminine mystique” is being perpetrated by anyone: “…who exonerates women who chose to have abortions as mere ‘victims’ of doctors and clinics for whose purposes women, by implication, are too dull-minded to comprehend.”An unplanned (or “crisis”) pregnancy can be a very stressful experience, leaving many women particularly vulnerable. Under such circumstances, a woman’s victimization by abortion should not imply that she was too “dull-minded” to comprehend pro-abortionist purposes. Stating that a woman exploited by abortion must be “dull-minded” is blaming the victim for her fate. For example, using Ms. Allen’s above sentence structure, but substituting characters and event, we get: a new, negative “feminine mystique” is being perpetrated by anyone: “…who exonerates women who chose to accompany date-rapists as mere ‘victims’ of male escorts for whose purposes women, by implication, are too dull-minded to comprehend.”ABC commentator Sam Donaldson (paraphrasing from “This Week with David Brinkley”): “How can they (women) be victims? They freely chose to have an abortion.” The pro-lifer did not reply.Sam’s unstated premise: if a person chooses something, he or she cannot be a victim. Let’s examine this premise in reference to other situations: A person who chooses to take his life is commonly called a suicide victim. A person who chooses to use cigarettes and develops lung cancer is commonly called a smoking victim. A person who chooses to use narcotics and overdoses is commonly called a drug victim. A person who chooses to engage in promiscuous, high-risk sex and acquires HIV- 1 is commonly called an AIDS victim. Are these people no longer victims? If so, Sam has some Draconian ideas! - Possible pro-abortion distinction: “Abortion is a safe procedure, hardly ever fatal.” (Obviously, this statement ignores the fate of the innocent child.) But, this only says that fatality is a prerequisite for victimization. What about rape? Is a sexually assaulted woman not a victim unless murdered as well? Sam’s only logical escape: “Abortion, unlike the above examples, is not a bad thing.” But this does not stand up to scrutiny; it is nothing but pro-abortion dogma.
- Rachel’s Vineyard and other post-abortion trauma support groups point out the reality of women victimized and exploited by abortion.
- Pro-abortionists refuse to accept anything which compromises their “abortion-on-demand is a good thing” viewpoint.