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Not only do victims of rape have to suffer through a vile and violent crime, they also have to deal with the burden of proof. They have to prove they weren't "asking for it" or that they didn't misread a situation. That's on top of emotional and physical repercussions, which include the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases. And when the victim is a woman, there's also the chance she may have gotten pregnant and have to decide whether she's comfortable with keeping a baby that would share DNA with her attacker. <br><br>

To add an additional layer of insult to injury, Rep. Tod Akin (R-Mo.) argued against a woman's right to have an abortion, even in the case of rape. In an interview conducted in August, he said, "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
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The senator was not reelected.

No respect for female rape victims

( Charlie Riedel / Associated Press )

Not only do victims of rape have to suffer through a vile and violent crime, they also have to deal with the burden of proof. They have to prove they weren't "asking for it" or that they didn't misread a situation. That's on top of emotional and physical repercussions, which include the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases. And when the victim is a woman, there's also the chance she may have gotten pregnant and have to decide whether she's comfortable with keeping a baby that would share DNA with her attacker.

To add an additional layer of insult to injury, Rep. Tod Akin (R-Mo.) argued against a woman's right to have an abortion, even in the case of rape. In an interview conducted in August, he said, "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

The senator was not reelected.