Sunday, November 25, 2007

The Privacy of the Whole World




Recently, Mentwabe Dawit - the biological mother of Angelina Jolie's and Brad Pitt's adopted 2-year old daughter Zahara - announced to Reuters that Zahara was conceived during rape. Mentwabe was attacked in 2004 when walking home from work at night in the Ethiopian town of Awasa. Mentwabe was unable to support her child, and instead of watch her die from starvation, she gave Zahara up for adoption.

Rape is of course a horrific episode for any woman (understatement!) and a crime that should be reported. However, telling the entire world that Zahara was conceived during rape is a definite NO NO. Mentwabe should have waited until Zahara came of age and then together they could have decided whether or not to share this news and with what audience.

Mentwabe has eliminated any choice on Zahara's part and while she obviously experienced extreme trauma, how much trauma has she now inflicted on her daughter, Zahara?


No comments: