Refusing to Abort My Voice: Why I Kept the Rape Chapter in My Book

Being told to remove the rape chapter in my book felt exactly like being told to have an abortion. Hear me out.

In both cases, the pressure comes from people who believe they know better than you — parents, authority figures, leaders. They might say, “You’re too young to handle this,” or “It’ll make the family/church look bad,” or “It’s a bad influence on others.”

When it comes to abortion, the argument is often framed around the child: too young to raise a baby, too much risk, too much shame. When it comes to my book, the argument was framed around me: too young to talk about rape, too much risk to my reputation, too much risk to the church’s image.

But here’s the truth: I refused to abort my chapter. And I feel so, so good about it.

I carried that chapter because young people need to hear the truth. They need to know about consent, about boundaries, about what’s real — even when adults around them are uncomfortable. Removing it would have been like hiding a birth, like silencing life itself.

Writing that chapter was not about rebellion. It was about courage. It was about choosing truth over comfort, education over image, and empowerment over shame.

I’m proud I carried it. And if you’ve ever felt told you’re “too young” to speak, too inexperienced, too fragile, remember this: your voice matters. Your truth matters. Your courage matters.

Don’t abort your ideas. Don’t silence your story. Carry it.