We must continue to fight.
Like many other privileged American kids, my biggest concerns at ten years old were whether or not I could finish my homework before soccer practice or if my dad was going to buy me the new marine biology Barbie. In Paraguay, a ten-year-old girl is being forced to carry her stepfather’s child.
The story of this girl (who I’ll henceforth refer to as “E”) showed up in my Facebook newsfeed a few months ago. I remember reading one article about the situation and feeling upset but then — to be totally honest — pushed it out of my head (which I tend to believe is what many of us do after reading news stories that are as upsetting as this one).
Then a few weeks ago, E popped into my life again. My school’s feminist club screened the movie Obvious Child and spent a good half an hour dissecting the film’s clear pro-choice message afterwards. We soon veered into a more general discussion about abortion and our faculty chaperone mentioned that abortion is banned in Paraguay in all cases except for when the mother’s life is in danger. We then discussed E’s case in particular, and I have thought about her every day since.
I believe there are two major reasons why her case particularly haunts me. First, in terms of practical concerns, I worry about the individual suffering this child will experience due to being forced to continue her pregnancy. She has endured and will endure so much physical and psychological trauma, including incest, sexual assault, a potentially life-threatening pregnancy, and even separation from her loved ones while she is being monitored at the hospital. I am horrified that a child is being forced to endure an experience that will likely have these serious ramifications when the option for her to avoid at least some aspects of it is technically available.
On a larger scale, though, I fear that if E’s case does not warrant an abortion, that it will never be a justifiable option for any woman in Paraguay. Abortion is, and will likely always be, a very gray moral issue. However, I believe that E’s situation is one of the few black and white exceptions. E’s stepfather has been arrested but people in the country apparently remain divided about this case.
We must continue to protest on E’s behalf — as thousands of nonprofits, and millions of female rights activists around the world have. If E cannot be helped, after all, what hope do the rest of us have?
