Weary Beyond Words
“Legitimate rape” has now been added to the lexicon of sexual assault thanks to Representative Todd Akin, candidate for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. One wonders about the definition of this new term; perhaps its synonym “real rape” and its opposite is “illegitimate rape.” It’s a mystery to me.
“Legitimate rape” has now been added to the lexicon of sexual assault thanks to Representative Todd Akin, candidate for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. One wonders about the definition of this new term; perhaps its synonym “real rape” and its opposite is “illegitimate rape.” It’s a mystery to me. Rape is rape is rape: the forced penetration of the mouth, anus, or vagina by a penis or an object regardless of the gender of the perpetrator.
And then there is the question of where Representative Akin received his sex education. Perhaps he needs a refresher course on how sperm fertilize eggs in a human female. But then the human female portion of this equation seems to not even be in the picture Akin has of how rape happens.
I’d like to see Representative Akin explain this to Victoria Sherden who was raped by her estranged husband and became pregnant. But I doubt that Representative Akin would consider her husband’s rape of her to be “legitimate rape.”
Mostly I am weary of ignorant male politicians expounding on women’s experiences, women’s bodies, and women’s lives. Representative Akin is currently a member of the U.S House of Representatives which helps explain why the House seems unable to pass the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The need for the Office on Violence Against Women which would be funded by VAWA could not be more apparent: a source of accurate, informed information about rape and sexual assault. The good news is that Representative Akin’s opinions about rape and pregnancy have created a firestorm from across the political spectrum. Maybe there is a limit to outrageous, ill-informed comments from policy makers. Maybe this will motivate the House to pass the Reauthorization of VAWA. We live in hope.
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
FaithTrust Institute
www.faithtrustinstitute.org
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P.S. Perhaps I'll send Representative Akin a copy of Sexual Violence: The Sin Revisited.
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