Whew, I feel so much better knowing this. Todd Akin, one of Missouri’s Republican representatives in Congress knows all about how rape affects a woman, and he told an interviewer on Sunday:
“First of all, from what I understand from doctors, (pregnancy from rape) is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
Actually, it is fairly common to become pregnant from a rape. In a three-year study by the Medical University of South Carolina, it was found that:
“The national rape-related pregnancy rate is 5.0% per rape among victims of reproductive age (aged 12 to 45); among adult women an estimated 32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year. Among 34 cases of rape-related pregnancy, the majority occurred among adolescents and resulted from assault by a known, often related perpetrator. Only 11.7% of these victims received immediate medical attention after the assault, and 47.1% received no medical attention related to the rape. A total 32.4% of these victims did not discover they were pregnant until they had already entered the second trimester; 32.2% opted to keep the infant whereas 50% underwent abortion and 5.9% placed the infant for adoption; an additional 11.8% had spontaneous abortion.”
Read that whole paragraph again. The majority [of rape-related pregnancies] occurred among adolescents. Consider this, too: according to two separate studies, an astonishing 22%-29% of all female rape victims were younger than age 12. But never fear, because children who get pregnant from intercourse weren’t really raped. Hey, maybe Akin would like to sponsor a bill to abolish that whole statutory-rape thing.
Rep. Akin hasn’t got a clue. Rape is a horrible violation. To be pregnant from that violation is even worse: a months-long, medically risky ordeal resulting in the birth of a child that is worse than unwanted: it is wrenched from your body without your consent, forever and inextricably knitting you to your attacker. It is the theft of your child, of your choice of a partner with whom to procreate. It is the changeling that you are forced to raise after its parent throws your offspring from the nest, and then abandons its own in your offspring’s place.
Notice what happened with the pregnancies in the study cited above: Half aborted, a third elected to keep the infants, and just 6% put the infants up for adoption. Those statistics illustrate the tortured decision that these women and girls must make: whatever they decide regarding the attacker’s child, also happens to their own, and that’s the horror of it. To keep and raise my own infant, I am also raising my attacker’s unwanted child. To give the attacker’s child up, I must also give away my own baby. To abort and be done with it, to close a terrible chapter in my life, I must abort my own child, hating the attacker even more for forcing the creation of a life in me, and hating myself for making the decision to terminate it. I am stunned that a full third had the strength to keep the infants, although one wonders what a conflicted upbringing they may face.
The point is, this is a decision that most deeply affects the victims of rape; those victims have to live with the outcomes of that decision as well as the effects of the crime itself; and those women should be allowed to make the decision that is best for them.
Akin and his ilk – and there are quite a few, according to The Washington Post – have no business serving as legislators of women’s issues in a modern America. And women who value themselves and their freedom have no business voting for misogynists like Akin, who aren’t even educated on the biological facts of rape and pregnancy, much less the toll it takes on its victims.
ADDENDUM, 26 Aug 2012: See this excellent piece by Renee Devesty describing her experience of rape, the resulting pregnancy, and its decades-long, devastating effects on her.
ADDENDUM, 28 Aug 2012: Here is a very descriptive report on children of war rapes, their estimated numbers and what happens to them and their mothers. Required reading for Akin and his ilk.
Anonymous
August 21, 2012
Thank you for your intelligent post supported with important statistics and the TRUTH. Men should have no say in women’s health I think it’s only logical.
jayherron
September 13, 2012
I certainly agree that this man Akin should shut up! But it is interesting to me-as a male survivor of rape-how little consideration we get-being legitimate victims of this crime-what ever could be legitimate about it?? It gets worse-I confided in a minister once years back-he told me God has forgiven me! I wanted to puke of being such a fool to trust a ‘man of god’ and be responded to with such stupidity-I tried to trust just one more time,and…. It is an interesting road-a very ugly life-so much pain-and all from being a sexually traumatised man-one of many-very silent many; we all feel the same pain. I am still trying to understand-42 years later!
Peace
Lauren Davis-Todd
September 13, 2012
I am sorry about the pain you have experienced. I have a very dear male friend who was raped by his choir director when he was twelve years old, and I know how devastating it was for him and how afraid he was to tell anyone. Especially because he wasn’t even sure what to call “it.” Yet still, until you wrote, I wasn’t thinking about men being raped, even though I know you are right in that you are one of many who remain silent. For that I apologize, and will say thanks for the reminder. I hope you don’t give up on religion and/or ministers until you try Unitarian Universalism, which is fully grounded in reality, and could be quite helpful.
jayherrony herron
September 13, 2012
ahh..but the one thing that I do have and who I do trust is my friendship with God-oh yes!
Peace
Baby Snooks
October 22, 2012
One can find god without religion. A growing number of people are. Because of the hypocrisy of religion. My observation has been that those who have been harmed by religion are rarely if ever the helped by religion. Trying to distance itself from the disaster of its “purge of homosexual priests” with total disregard to the young girls who were molested by the heterosexual priests who were not “purged” some now are suggesting that the young boys, and the young girls, “tempted” the priests. In other words, it’s the children’s fault. Which is what jayherron was told. That it was his fault. It was not.
waterlexeme
August 21, 2012
How can someone this stupid be allowed to talk, let alone make laws? Who voted him in – zombies?
nikilee30
August 21, 2012
These statements by that idiot make me angry…and to some point grateful he doesn’t have the chance to make policies in my country (Canada), but at the same time fearful that some on my own politicians have the same thoughts and iggnorant upbringing of this man.
true2urhart
August 21, 2012
Sounds like someone should choose their words a little wiser. How could anyone act like they know… When it’s never happened to them? Still… Anyone who says you CAN’T get pregnant from rape is a liar. I don’t care if it’s rare. I’ve known people who were raped and kept that child. It was a difficult decision, but that child grew up to be an awesome man! Unless a person knows what it’s like to be raped… They should eat their words. This really does irritate/upset me just a little bit. Forget about if you can become pregnant or not. Get the attacker for harsher punishment so they don’t get away. Don’t punish those who were victims.
Rachel Louise Jones
August 21, 2012
I hate to say this, but that’s exactly the kind of thing I’ve come to expect to hear out of the mouth of a Republican. Well done for speaking out against such ignorant comments and ideas.
Rae
ephesians413
August 21, 2012
To continually say that what one stupid thing a Republican says must represent all Republicans is very divisive. Why do we always see the world in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them?’ There are stupid people on both sides of any issue. I’m tired of how politics divides us as a nation. We ought rather to find common ground somewhere and work things out together.
Rachel Louise Jones
August 22, 2012
Oh dear I apologise if I offended you. It’s just I’ve never agreed with any Republican policies or ideas. Admittedly I’m British, so I suppose I don’t have a right to say anything at all really. I was just trying to show some support for your post. Maybe I’ll just stick to non-political blogs as I always seem to say the wrong thing. Sorry! :(
Black Hippie Chick
September 4, 2012
There is no need for you to apologize in my opinion. It is an us versus them situation sometimes; I agree that there are idiots on both sides, but on the liberal side they generally aren’t trying to take away someone else’s rights. Until he knows what it feels like to almost die from a tubal pregnancy, from a rape by a man with diplomatic immunity, then I think he should shut the hell up.
Baby Snooks
October 22, 2012
The Republicans embraced the hate. And the ignorance. The Republicans own it. My family was Republican. One of my aunts thought Democrats were spawns from hell. She would probably say the same thing about Republicans at this point. And probably vote for Obama and every Democrat on the ballot. As I will. Some of us remember what the Republican Party once was. And are totally disgusted by what it has become. And have become Independant because at this point both parties have become corrupt. But you can only get rid of one. So you get rid of the most corrupt. If not the most evil. So we need to get rid of Republicans. And then Democrats. And then the parties. If nothing else, at least get rid of the little (D) and the little (R) next to the names. Too many fools vote simply on that basis. Which is why this county is in the shape that it’s in.
christianliberal
August 21, 2012
What would happen if right-wing women ruled the world? Imagine if Sarah Palin or religious fanatics took over. Imagine if they took a strict interpretation of the biblical law against the “spilling of seed,” and men were not allowed to touch themselves. Oh, then you’d hear a howl from men and a great upwelling of angst!
Well then, maybe you will have an inkling of the feeling women have when a bunch of angry old white men (i.e., the GOP) try to dictate to women what they can and cannot do with their own bodies. To wit: Senate challenger Todd Akin and his remarks on “legitimate rape.”
Tales from the Valley
August 22, 2012
Any politician that has no idea how a woman’s body works and has no respect for her rights and choices shouldn’t be representing them.
skinnyjenn
August 23, 2012
I’m not going to say that I’m a fan of Todd Akin. In fact, before this recent comment broke in the news, I had never heard of him. HOWEVER– so much attention is being paid to the phrase “legitimate rape” and some don’t seem to understand what is meant by it. I won’t pretend to know what Akin meant by this, but I would guess that he was getting at the difference in forcible, violent rape and “consensual” statutory rape. A 16 year old can get pregnant by her 19 yr. old boyfriend, get pregnant, and suddenly the numbers on pregnancies from rape change. Your numbers say the rate of pregnancy is 5% among victims in the reproductive ages. But when you consider how many of those pregnancies are a result of “consensual” statutory rape, that no longer seems like a huge number.
The Color of Lila
August 23, 2012
We can quibble over exact numbers and definitions of rape but the bottom line is: Todd Akin does not want to allow abortion, EVER, so NO rape victim will have a choice no matter how horrific her experience has been, much less any other women who want to terminate a pregnancy for any other reason.
And we can quibble over what he meant by “legitimate” or forcible rape, but the whole thrust of his comment was that if a woman gets pregnant, then she could not have been raped because somehow the body “shuts that whole thing down.” This is false and ignorant, and once again blames the victim for being pregnant and assumes that a pregnant woman must be lying about having been raped.
skinnyjenn
August 23, 2012
I’m a person who doesn’t believe women have the right to terminate a pregnancy except in the case of forcible rape or when it may endanger the life of the mother. I think if you’re 16 years old and you choose to have sex then you open yourself to the possibility of pregnancy. Yes, his comments were ignorant to a point, but the bottom line is, he is being crucified in the media because he is Pro-Life. If he had made ignorant comments but been Pro-Choice, it would have never made the mainstream news.
The Color of Lila
August 26, 2012
Akin does not want ANY women to have abortions, EVER. Even if they were forcibly beaten to a pulp and gang-raped. In this context, his comment was meant to assert that women in those situations just don’t get pregnant. But they sometimes do, and should have some control over what happens to themselves next.
There is a reason that rape is one of the vilest weapons of war.
Black Hippie Chick
September 4, 2012
I hope no one in your family ever has to experience rape & your definition that statutory rape isn’t “legitimate” rape disgusts me. I know 14 yr olds who receive no love at home & are with men at least 7yrs older than they are. Guess what, that IS rape! There is a reason that statutory rape laws exist. A lot of times in incestuous relationships the child gives consent because they were groomed to expect that behavior, this IS also rape.
Lauren Davis-Todd
September 4, 2012
Skinnyjenn, maybe you could tell us how his comments could be translated into ignorant Pro-Choice comments? Like maybe he could say that the uterus cannot tell if its pregnant condition resulted from a forcible rape or a consensual statutory rape? That would probably get the attention of the media. And, I think you need to amend your statement about 16 year olds to ,”if you’re a 16 year old FEMALE and you choose to have sex then you open yourself to the possibility of pregnancy.” Without reproduction rights, it is the women who pay the ultimate price of unwanted pregnancy.
Kristin Mireles
September 2, 2012
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3qqi75/
Pedro Alvarez Fotografía
September 4, 2012
Siglo 21 y seguimos con esto… me parece increíble!!!
The Color of Lila
September 4, 2012
Estamos de acuerdo. muchisimas gracias.
teeceecounsel
September 4, 2012
Choices have consequences and should not be imposed. Politics has many dicey sides. Lovely post, portraying your admirable ability to Think Your Own Thoughts.
The Scarecrow
September 16, 2012
Where the hell is George carlin when you need him? Thank God I’m Canadian…
Lauren Davis-Todd
September 16, 2012
Yes, and you can thank God that you are so protected just by the presence of the U.S south of you!
jillinois
September 18, 2012
I got pregnant after being raped. Miscarried, and never let a man near me again. Akin is a fool.
cleo
September 29, 2012
OMG! all i can say is “what an idiot!” there are quite a few things i’d like to say to his quote but i think anyone one with half a brain already knows what I would say! RANT over!
inkedvocabulary
October 18, 2012
Your post is informative, well thought out and dispels ignorance to the subject. I worked briefly in the San Joaquin County Woman’s Center and was one of but three men hired from its inception. Rape is rape, and to say (ignorantly) if it is ‘a legitimate rape’… Todd Akin exposes how little he knows of a subject he will never understand. Kudos to your informative piece of writing… with such a personal touch but please know even with consent there is the legality of age to consider here- and even this can be rape as rape is and should be understood.