Exploring the Intersection of Violence Against Women in War and the Pro-Choice vs Pro-Life Debate

March 17, 2024

Image: Bettmann / CORBIS / AP / Kara Gordon / The Atlantic

Ancient Greeks considered the rape of women during war as socially accepted behavior well within the rules of warfare. During the late Middle Ages, with the prevalence of war rape, military circles fully supported the notion that all persons, including women and children, were still the enemy, regardless of their contribution to inflicting harm in the war. (Askin, 1997) Triumph over women became a sign of success and masculinity to underpaid and unrecognized soldiers.

Growing up as a woman is hard; growing up as a woman in the middle of a war is even more challenging. There is fear in an individual’s mind amidst the crises happening in the world. One seeks protection and security during these times. Feminist security studies have been distinguished from or are critical of other critical approaches to the study of security, citing that other approaches rarely take the concept of gender into security studies. Cynthia Enloe critiques security studies as being constructed through a singular lens of patriarchy and hegemonic masculinity. (Gaztold, 2017) The violence in Bucha, Denisova shows how girls and women aged 14 to 24 were systematically raped during the occupation in the basement of one house in Bucha. Nine of them were pregnant. Russian soldiers told them, according to a report from 2023, that they would rape them to the point where they wouldn't want any sexual contact with any men to prevent them from having Ukrainian children. Such instances of rape as a weapon of war used to humiliate have been prevalent during wars for centuries. Another example that shows the raging isolated war against women within the war itself was the case of continuous sexual assault during the 7th of October attack on Israel: Wall Street Journal reported on 21st December 2023 that “there was mounting evidence of sexual violence, based on survivor accounts, first respondents and witnesses.” Women, children, and newborns in Gaza are disproportionately bearing the burden of the escalation of hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territory, both as casualties and in reduced access to health services.

Attempting to connect war rape to the abortion debate: how men inherently get to decide on women’s security rights-

During armed conflict, rape is frequently used as a means of psychological warfare to humiliate the enemy. The pro-choice/pro-life debate on abortion rights took the world by storm, especially during the 2010s. Awareness of family planning methods brings hope for young girls and women, especially victims of sexual abuse, who may not be able to cope with the physical and mental challenges of bearing a child without adequate support. However, it is often men who dominate the discourse, most of the time disregarding the legitimate desires of women. With the overturning of Roe V Wade, the US and other countries affected by the law were distressed. The fundamental right to safe, lawful, and efficient abortion is deeply ingrained in international human rights law. It stands as a cornerstone of women's and girls' autonomy, empowering them to make decisions about their bodies and futures without facing discrimination, violence, or coercion. Obstacles hindering access to safe, prompt, easily accessible, affordable, respectful, and non-discriminatory abortion services can lead to emotional anguish and infringe upon the rights of women and girls. These barriers, mainly originating from the idea that men get rights over women’s bodies, violate their right to privacy, equality, and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and punishment, ultimately leading to their security being violated. The issue of women and girls' bodily autonomy and reproductive well-being is heavily politicized and securitized. Employing feminist frameworks in the study of sexual and reproductive health and rights during conflicts can highlight the central role of women's bodies in policies and violent conflicts.

The abortion debate intersects with war crimes involving sexual violence against women in significant ways. In conflict zones, women face sexual violence, leading to unwanted pregnancies. Access to safe abortion is vital for them to regain control over their bodies, but often, it's restricted or absent, worsening their trauma. Sexual violence in war is a grave violation of human rights, highlighting the need for comprehensive support, including abortion access. The debate surrounding abortion often reflects broader societal attitudes toward women's autonomy and bodily integrity. Just as sexual violence in war is a manifestation of power and control over women's bodies, restrictions on abortion can similarly be viewed as attempts to assert control over women's reproductive choices. Addressing both issues requires recognizing women's rights to autonomy, dignity, and access to healthcare, regardless of the circumstances they find themselves in, whether in times of conflict or peace.

This intersection is encapsulated in one particular scene from the movie series “The Hunger Games,” where the leading female character is announced as pregnant onstage to an audience of thousands of onlookers, leading to them erupting into protests, as the central theme of the movie was sending children off to fight each other to death. They could not fathom a pregnant woman fighting. When you look at the scene from a different perspective, the pro-life side of the debate is highlighted, as the government and people are completely fine with children fighting in wars until a fetus is involved. This work of fiction shows that the anger over abortions was never about the babies but rather the control and judgment of women, or in this case, the children who are sent to fight the war for the entertainment of the government. It shows the current scenario of war, paralleling reality, as both cases involve nations controlling women’s bodies and fighting a battle within themselves. The treatment of this scene by both its creators and consumers provides insight into how it, as a work of media, was ultimately shaped and evaluated by individuals who chose to highlight it for discussion.

When feminists use the term gender today, they generally are not referring to the biological differences between the male and the female but to a set of culturally shaped and defined characteristics associated with masculinity and femininity. The war-peace dichotomy is gendered and oftentimes misleading, which many don't seem to realize. In times of war, traditional notions of masculinity often become amplified, with men typically occupying roles as combatants, leaders, and decision-makers. This can lead to the marginalization of women's voices and experiences, relegating them to secondary roles or subjects of exploitation. Women may also be disproportionately affected by the social and economic consequences of war, such as displacement, loss of livelihoods, and increased caregiving responsibilities. Conversely, efforts to restore stability and promote reconciliation during peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction may overlook or marginalize women's participation and needs. The peacebuilding initiatives that fail to address underlying gender inequalities risk perpetuating cycles of violence and injustice. During times of both war and peace, women’s civil rights are breached, and they are treated as objects that can be controlled ‘just because they are women’ for the sake of men. Connecting the pro-choice/pro-life debate with sexual violence during wars may initially seem unrelated and far-fetched. However, to establish a connection, one must delve deeper and uncover several layers to understand the root of this relationship.

References:

1.     Askin, Kelly Dawn (1997). War Crimes Against Women: Prosecution in International War Crimes Tribunals. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN 978-90-411-0486-1

2.     Gaztold, Aleksandra. (2017). A Feminist Approach to Security Studies.

3.     Limaye, Yogita (2022). Ukraine Conflict: “Russian Soldiers Raped Me and Killed My Husband.” BBC News.

4.     Reuters (2023). Accounts of Sexual Violence in Hamas Attack Mount but Justice Is Remote for Israel's Victims. U.S. News.

5.     Hedström, J., & Herder, T. (2023). Women's sexual and reproductive health in war and conflict: are we seeing the full picture?. Global health action, 16(1), 2188689.