by RumpleTeazer
Most people would call me nuts for saying that Andrea Yates' life sentence verdict is a victory, some because they believe she should be sentenced to death and some because they believe she should be sent to a mental institution. I agree with the later, which is the only reason I call it a "small victory", at least she's not dead. Unfortunately, most people in America today do not understand postpartum depression, or believe that it even exists, along with the consequences that come with it. I believe that is about to change. Due, in large, to the Yates trial.
I've kept a close eye on this situation because I have a friend that suffered from PPD and I was curious as to how it would be handled. However, it became less of a curiosity and more of a mission to inform as I watched so many people ignore the facts and insistently demand that Mrs. Yates receive the death penalty. Granted, this is one of the more extreme cases of PPD, but the fact is: she was suffering from PPD at the time she murdered her children. How this could ever be disputed is beyond me. There has been ample documents saying that she tried, in vain mind you, to get help. She even told her husband how she felt, but was still left alone to care for the children. The fact that her doctor changed her prescription two weeks before the murders can not be ignored. I stress these points because they are the key factor in this situation. If someone had listened to her, if there had been proper help available, this would not have happened.
Yet, Mrs. Yates is still being viewed as this hideous monster who cold-bloodedly murdered her five children. I have to say, it baffles me that with all the proof out there, people are only seeing the children alone as being the victims. Maybe it's because we are so fed up with the abuse of the "insanity plea", that we can't see an actual case of mental illness, maybe it's because we can see no further than the fact that five innocent children are dead, murdered by their own mother, or maybe it's because it's easier to close our eyes and think that this was just an isolated incident that will go away once we deal with her. Either way, it's a tragedy that this has happened and hopefully, now, when a mother goes to the doctor and says she feels like harming her children, she will receive proper help and not be turned away with the attitude that "it will pass".
The actual case aside, you may be wondering how something like this could have happened in the first place. I have a theory, based on experience, that I would like to share with you now...
A Closer Look:
The issue was raised during the trial, that Andrea Yates' doctor had warned her not to have more children after she suffered from PPD with the first two. So the following is an assumption that you already have a child and you know you suffer from PPD. However, most of the situations discussed here are a problem for American women as a whole. (Note: I say "American women" because most European countries have programs set up for women with PPD, not because I believe we are the only ones in the world that have to deal with it.)
We, as women, are constantly given choices on how to deal with having, or not having, a child. Yet, those choices are systematically taken away until you're left with simply having the child and being the perfect mother, otherwise, you're viewed as a failure, or worse. Consider this: Our nation, for the most part, sees abortion as a sin. Certain religions see birth control as a sin. Not to mention, the pressures put upon a woman her from family, friends and the father of the child. So, where does that leave a woman? Let's follow our line of "choices", shall we?
First off, she could abstain from sex. A very noble way to live, if you're single. However, not very practical if you happen to be young married woman. Even less practical if you're a married woman who already has a child. (If you care to dispute this, I will be more than happy to rattle off divorce statistics in America.) So for arguments sake, let's say that you've decided against abstinence for whatever reason. Where do you go from there?
You have the option is birth control. Very simple, situation solved, congratulations! This is how the bulk of women deal with the issue of not having more children and the preferred way, at that. However, what if you're a part minority that believes that birth control is a sin, or what if the birth control fails and now you're a pregnant? Your only options are to have the child or not to have the child.
As I've said, abortion in this country is highly frowned upon by most and even if you do decide this option, it can be very expensive, financially as well as emotionally. Emotionally because now you have to deal with the fact that you've killed your child (imagine the irony there), or because you have to deal with family and friends, or possibly the father. That alone is sometimes enough to deter you from having the procedure done. So suppose you shoot all the repercussions to the wind and decide on abortion anyway? Once again, situation solved. But, what if you're one of those that couldn't live with yourself and the knowledge that you've committed this "immoral act" or if you're one of those that see abortion as a sin, you're only option is to have the child.
From there, you can either give the child up for adoption or you can keep the child. Giving a child up for adoption is still not highly looked upon in America, but it's getting better and it's getting less difficult to do. Adoption is definitely better than the alternative of abortion or, God forbid, keeping the child and hurting or worse, killing it. Unfortunately, after giving birth, a lot of women find it hard to give their baby up, so they keep them and pray that everything will be all right. Then there are those that could never even consider giving up their child, or the father refuses to give up the child, ( in which case the father should be the one caring for the child, right? Well, maybe for one percent of our population, other than that, it's his wife that cares for the child, problems or no problems). So what do you do? You keep the child, of course. But, what if, somewhere along the way, you realize that you're having problems dealing with the child?
Well, you do what Andrea Yates did, you seek help. Sure Mrs. Yates knew that what she was doing would be considered wrong, but at that particular moment, she didn't think that what she was doing was wrong. Before that, she knew she had a problem and that's why she tried, to the very best of her ability to correct the problem. But, when others do not understand, how are they going to help? Does this make her evil? I guess, considering the fact that most people wanted to see her die, it does. And that, my friends, is a thought that scares the hell out of me.
I'm not saying that this is the way it happened with Mrs. Yates, but it is a very realistic view of the choices that women have today. The pressures put on women, in the area of childbearing, are almost overwhelming. Most people view a woman with no children as being a failure. If you're an unwed mother, it's worse, but at least you have the government on your side (welfare, education, medical aid...). If you're a married woman who can't have children due to medical problems, you better hope that you believe in some type of assisted conception and that AC even works, otherwise, you're probably looking at divorce again. It's no wonder why so many women are having babies when, for all intense purposes, they should not be. You may think this is a harsh view, but like I said, it's a realistic one and I dare any woman to disagree (you can close your eyes all you like, but the knowledge is still there). Until these views are changed and/or we start getting these women with mental problems some serious help, we will always have the "Andrea Yates" of the world to deal with.
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