Judge To Rape Victim: You Should Have Closed Your Legs


There has been plenty of talk about rape culture here in the U.S. But, surprisingly, there are government officials in other countries saying ugly things. A judge in Spain told a rape victim to “close her legs.” Yes, somebody actually said this to a victim of sexual abuse.

There is a campaign to get the judge, Maria del Carmen Molina Mansilla, suspended. It’s mind-boggling that any woman could say this to a rape victim. The judge asked some offensive questions, and then didn’t give her the chance to answer.

We also have plenty of government officials saying insensitive things to victims. It’s happened so much that we are calling it “rape culture.” People are blaming these women for their own vicious attacks.

We have the (in)famous Missouri Representative Todd Akin and his “legitimate rape” idiocy. He said that if a rape is “legitimate rape” that the female body can just “shut it down.” Yes, he actually said that. Somebody needs to go back to anatomy class. Less than two weeks before this incident, Akin tried to ban the “morning-after pill” saying “it’s a form of abortion.”

These idiotic comments are becoming very common. It has even sparked a website to count down the days since the last rape comment, and it has links to previous comments.

Todd Baugh, a Montana judge, heaped on the victim blaming when he was working on a case of a 14-year-old girl who was raped by her 54-year-old teacher. Baugh said she was as much in control of the situation as the rapist. Yes, because a 14-year-old could fight off a 54-year-old man. Apparently, the man had been kicked out of a sex offender treatment program, but somehow he still became a teacher.

Arizona Representative Trent Frank said that the incidence of pregnancy from sexual assault is so low that it doesn’t justify an abortion exception.

Barbara Listing, president of Right To Life of Michigan, compared rape and incest to a car accident or a flood. She said that it is something that women should have to buy extra insurance for. This was her argument for not adding abortion coverage to plans on the insurance marketplace. Obviously, rape is a CRIME, and no one can anticipate being a victim.

It’s mind-boggling that these people can blame victims after they have been raped. Republicans really need to get some compassion installed immediately.

Featured image by David Shankbone via flickr.com, available under Creative Commons 2.0 license.

Hi, I'm from Huntsville, AL. I'm a Liberal living in the Bible Belt, which can be quite challenging at times. I'm passionate about many issues including mental health, women's rights, gay rights, and many others. Check out my blog weneedtotalkaboutmentalhealth.com