Missouri Representative and Senate hopeful Todd Akin has swiftly become the most hated man of the week across party lines after his comments Sunday suggesting a woman cannot get pregnant from “legitimate rape” incited a national outrage, including YouTube songs, Twitter tirades and backlash from both the GOP and President Obama. 
“It seems to be, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, it’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down,” Akin said in an interview Sunday afternoon, in answer to a question about the justification of abortion in rape situations. 
The idea that women have “hormonal defenses” against pregnancy in violent situations is an old one which has been deemed false by health experts. Perhaps more concerning is Akin’s attempt to define the legitimacy of rape for women. In response to the comments, Governor Mitt Romney denounced Akin’s stance and requested Akin step down from his bid for senator against Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill, a seat which the Republican Party desperately needs to take control of Congress. 
“Todd Akin’s comments were offensive and wrong and he should very seriously consider what course would be in the best interest of our country,” Romney said. Meanwhile, President Obama took the opportunity to make a statement about his stance on women’s health care.  “Rape is rape,” Obama said. “What I think these comments do underscore is why we shouldn’t have a bunch of politicians, a majority of whom are men, making healthcare decisions on behalf of women.”  The president, behind the heavy-handed campaigning, has a point. Comments like Akin’s reflect a larger problem in our culture which often blames victims of sexual assault and tries to define women’s experiences for them. I’m glad so many people across the nation have expressed that Akin’s comments are unacceptable. However, comments such as Akin’s are not new, nor are they rare. The rape culture we live in has created an environment where it’s possible for a man like Akin to hold such opinions, for men to think they should be able to define what type of rape is “legitimate”.  In a culture that tells girls the way they dress determines whether or not they deserve to have their autonomy taken away, it’s not surprising those same people would want to define “real” rape. How often do we tell our boys not to rape, compared to how many times we tell our girls to be careful what to drink, not to go out at night alone, not to wear those clothes and on and on?  We are creating a culture where girls are constantly afraid and blame themselves when a horrific crime is committed against them because they feel they should have been more vigilant.  Girls should not have to make sure their clothes and habits and expressions do not put them in danger. Vigilance should not always be in the back of their minds. 
Why do we know exactly what behaviors might possibly put girls in more danger to be raped, but we never discuss the types of behaviors which might make boys in danger of becoming a rapist?  So, if you’re reading this and you or someone you know thinks rape jokes are funny, or “10 no’s and a yes means yes,” women are challenges to be won, alcohol makes sex more fun or certain clothing means a girl is “asking for it,” you may be in danger of becoming a rapist. I’m here to tell you: you’re wrong. Stop it.
Not only is rape illegal, but it is one of the most serious crimes you can commit against humanity.  All rape is legitimate. All people deserve your respect. And all women deserve the right to decide what happens to their bodies.