I don't understand... the victim is not further harmed by not conceiving a child from rape. Are you arguing that girls should get unwanted pregnancies as a result of rape in order to better implicate the perpetrator? Or are you arguing they should conceive, test the DNA of the fetus to help identify the perp, and then abort the fetus? If so, that sounds worse for the victim.

idyllicmollusk, we're distressed by the attitude that the Plan B somehow erases the rape, that the only harm done to a victim of rape, statutory rape, spousal abuse, etc., is if she gets pregnant and carries to term. As long as there is successful contraception or abortion, it sets everything right. Even if the contraception or abortion is at the behest of the abuser/rapist and not the victim. The live baby is the greatest harm, and as long as that's avoided, it's as if all is well.

Meanwhile this attitude -- that the prevention of the birth of a live child should be our focus -- means that perpetrators get the cooperation of Pill pushers in their abuse. After all, if she doesn't end up being the mother of a live baby, no harm, no foul, right?

hmm... i can see both sides of the argument but this situation is sad whatever man would rape a girl knowing he could get er pregnent then give her a morning after pill which kills any conceived zygote... is a sick man goign around making babbies and killing them is what hat should be called, but i can see that the victim shouldnt have to be responsible for a child they coneived in a rape, anyways men that do this need very strong prison sentances i belive a crime like that is indescribable, and especially with puttuing the victim through that

oops lol sorry for the mispellings er= her goign= going puttuing=putting

also that is very distressing, i agree christina, aborting a conceived child even if it wasnt consentual dosent erase a rape.... and like i said before it is sick that a man would do that it may sound cheesy but i dont care ill say it hahaha GRrrrrrrrrr that makes me so mad im not gonna say what i wish to be done to men like that... but overall again like i said they need very strong prison sentances i beleive, ok thats all

Thanks for the thoughtful answer, Christina.

I guess I have lived in different communities than you. People around me (though perhaps not always the authorities) take rape VERY seriously. So I have never encountered this situation you describe: the attitude that the only harm a rape does is create unwanted pregnancy. Most, if not all, the people I know would disagree with such a statement.

I still don't understand how E.C. worsens a rape victim's life. As far as the data available goes, 0% of rapes occurred because the rapist heard about E.C. In some cases, rape victims are very glad to have E.C. available, and make their own choice to take it, as it prevents a pregnancy resulting from their trauma.

Of course, a woman should never be coerced to do anything against her will, whether it is coerced sex, coerced abortion, or coerced pregnancy. On this point I think we agree.

we're distressed by the attitude that the Plan B somehow erases the rape

The man was arrested and charged with rape. Where are you getting this delusional idea that EC erases rape?

After all, if she doesn't end up being the mother of a live baby, no harm, no foul, right?

How many thirteen-year-old girls do you know who want to become "mothers of live babies" with rapists? That is insanity.