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Rape and a Woman's Word
May. 2nd, 2006 11:08 am♠
To recognize that some women wrongly accuse men of rape is not antifemale, any more than recognizing that some men rape women is antimale. Is it so unreasonable to think that a uniquely damaging charge will be used by some people as a weapon, just as others will use their muscle? Do we really believe that when women have power -- and there is power in an accusation of rape -- they are less likely to abuse it than men? As Columbia University law professor George Fletcher has written, ''It is important to defend the interests of women as victims, but not to go so far as to accord women complaining of rape a presumption of honesty and objectivity."
-- Cathy Young for The Boston Globe
Ms. Young is writing on the Duke Lacrosse rape charges that make up one of this season's causes celebres. I wanted to get down this quote, but the actual case is so sensitive and controversial that we are content to let the justice system resolve the matter without prejudice.
( Parker column added May, 30, 2006 )
xXx
To recognize that some women wrongly accuse men of rape is not antifemale, any more than recognizing that some men rape women is antimale. Is it so unreasonable to think that a uniquely damaging charge will be used by some people as a weapon, just as others will use their muscle? Do we really believe that when women have power -- and there is power in an accusation of rape -- they are less likely to abuse it than men? As Columbia University law professor George Fletcher has written, ''It is important to defend the interests of women as victims, but not to go so far as to accord women complaining of rape a presumption of honesty and objectivity."
-- Cathy Young for The Boston Globe
Ms. Young is writing on the Duke Lacrosse rape charges that make up one of this season's causes celebres. I wanted to get down this quote, but the actual case is so sensitive and controversial that we are content to let the justice system resolve the matter without prejudice.
( Parker column added May, 30, 2006 )
