Voices

Rapists are responsible for impregnating their victim — not the victim

BRATTLEBORO — I say to myself, “Don't take the bait.” But when a man writes to The Commons that “[v]ictims of rape and incest have available to them the ability to prevent pregnancy” and therefore, implies that it is a woman's fault should she become pregnant during rape or incest ... aargh.

Imagine, Kenneth Scipione, that a woman you love is the victim of rape. The rapist might be someone she knows, someone she loves, a stranger, a family member, a friend. She is raped by this person, but you think it's her responsibility if she gets pregnant during this crime? Maybe she could just ask him to stop for a minute so she can run off and grab some birth control?

Let's be clear: Rapists are responsible for impregnating their victim, not the victim. Take some time to study biology and start putting the responsibility of pregnancy on men as well.

In fact, did you know that all pregnancies could be prevented if men did not ejaculate? Maybe try saying “he got her pregnant” instead of “she got pregnant” and see how that impacts your thinking on this.

If you really want to stop abortion, then start looking at the choices men make in causing the pregnancies where these difficult decisions have to be made - and please stop putting all the blame on the woman.

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly updates