The reporting of numerous high profile sexual charges has taken us by surprise. It was always known that there were sexual assaults and more that occurred and were never reported. The rate of reporting is extremely low. The rate of conviction for offenders is again extremely low.
There would be numerous reasons why the very few assault charges were laid.
Our justice system is woefully inadequate to process sexual assaults. Women are unwilling to report and lay charges as the system doesn't work with respect to sexual charges. It's difficult for a complainant to give evidence regarding an assault. It's a personal and hurtful experience. Then a cross examination can add another layer of stress. The offender then gives his side of the story. So you have two stories. Which one does the justice system accept. Historically it's been very difficult to get a conviction on a sexual assault.
So the justice system has limped along making a very poor job of cases.
Too many males and very few females have been involved in setting up a legal system that works better than what we have now. The justice system until recently was mainly male and they set up and ran a very ineffective system. One judge in Alberta asked a rape victim why she didn't keep her legs together during the assault..
Now since some women have skirted the justice system and reported assault many more women feel confident enough to report what has happened to them. That is good.
So now we have men who are publicly accused of sexual misconduct . Many men have lost their positions without going through due process. So again the justice system fails us.
The patriarchal system we have leads to male behavior of dominance. I wonder if matriarchal systems have been looked at as far as their issues with sexual assault is concerned.
We are a highly competitive society. People who desire leadership rolls compete vigorously for the position. No holds barred. Many politicians are now accused of misconduct. Politicians are able to negate half of their rivals with inappropriate sexual conduct.
The justice system is only one piece of the puzzle. Education? Social behavior?
We have a long way to go on this one before an acceptable level of justice and equality are achieved.
Some good food for thought.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to have to do more than think about this one.
DeleteThe royal "we". I think each person needs to take responsibility for what they do and don't do. If we all did that the world would be a better place. You brought out some good thoughts for people to think about. I didn't mean they should only think...but each should act according to their circumstances and abilities.
DeleteWhen the pendulum finally swings, it can go too far, but at least we are becoming "woke" to many injustices.
ReplyDeleteToday there is quite a bit of talk about the pendulum.
DeleteWe are victims of our biology. We forget that, like animals, males want to reproduce with the most vulnerable and young of the species. We became civilized and had to change our instincts and accept that all human being have rights. The pendulum will swing to far the other way, but I can live with that. I agree with Ginsburg that we will have enough female Supreme Court Justices when ALL of them a females.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Many of these are old men, far beyond reproduction age. This, like rape, is beyond biology, it's about power and control. It's nothing to do with sex.
DeleteHey, these old men are never out of gas. They can reproduce for a very long time. My brother-in-law was born when his Dad was 64.
DeleteNot gas, but the need to reproduce! It's about power over someone powerless!
DeleteWe seem to have flipped over to the other side of sexual assault and maybe gone too far, but it's about time that women can actually speak out about what happened to them without being afraid of being shamed themselves. It's a messy situation but frankly I'm glad to find that so many sexual predators are being called out.
ReplyDeleteI think we still have some time to move further on this one. Women have to still keep the pedal to the metal.
DeleteI think that the majority of these cases are situations where men in the workplace, and after work, are preying on vulnerable young women. Men didn't know how to handle women in the workplace, after WW II, and women entered the workforce. Ancient judicial systems don't know how to handle it.
ReplyDeleteMen thought it their right, as the 'women wanted it', born of an arrogance. I've faced a few situations, all after work hours. It was horrid, I thought it was my fault. It's now not necessary to prove it in court. It's too hard on the victims. There are some witnesses. Even telling friends and family, at the time, is credible to me. It seems as if the bystanders need to speak up. If everyone knew, for example, that one didn't enter an elevator with Hehr, it should be reported. It took me until age 35 to report one situation. I'm glad I did. The culture changed in that social situation.
It's all about power. Put somebody down and you maintain your power.
DeleteOf course you're right. But I'm more of an optimist. When my mother was born, women couldn't even vote. Now women live longer than men; more women than men graduate from college; etc., etc. There are the legal issues around sexual harassment; but I think eventually it will come down to social pressure and social norms . . . when it's no longer "cool" to notch lists of sexual "conquests" and we just treat one another as human beings. We've come a long way; but again you're right, we have a ways to go.
ReplyDeleteYou're right on when you say we have to look at each other as humans first.
DeleteSad to have to hear more and more.Where did morality lose out?
ReplyDeleteMorality and more are needed to turn this ship around.
DeleteAnd that judge, if I'm not mistaken, is trying to get back onto the bench.
ReplyDeleteThe judge wants to be able to practice law again.
DeleteTo me it is very surprising that the spotlight of truth has not fallen on the past conduct of rock and roll bands. Over the years thousands of underage, besotted girls were abused by members of rock bands. Some were so-called "groupies". As an example, you can't tell me that The Rolling Stones did not use their position to occasionally harass and prey upon young women.
ReplyDeleteSports teams are over the top on this item.
DeleteA sad situation that must be addressed better everywhere.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. There are many changes that have to be made.
DeleteHello, these stories are coming out of the woodwork lately. Todays, is Mr Winn the casino owner of Las Vegas paid 7.5 million dollars to one woman, can you imagine what that poor woman went thru to get that much money. He just stepped down from the board. Crazy stuff! Happy weekend to you!
ReplyDeleteVEry few of these incidents are settled in court.
DeleteA very good summary of the problem. And I agree -- education and social pressure are key in fixing the problems of sexual abuse, abuse of power, etc. I think with the flood of accusations revealing the tip of the iceberg, there will be improvements. Women feel empowered and gain strength as they see others speak out and I don't think they will ever again tolerate this kind of behavior silently as they have in the past.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right.
DeleteI think Red gave an excellent analysis of the problem and the system of injustice we have . And Jenns statement of it being not so much about sex as power. Except for young males where biology and stupidity enter the scene...:(
ReplyDeleteThe young male situation may b true but it still doesn't excuse them.
DeleteGood thoughts, Red. It's going to take time, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteAn important post. This is all new and we are stumbling along. I'm glad to see women finally having the courage to step forward. Things will balance out eventually and perhaps men will begin to behave more civilized.
ReplyDeleteYou've said it beautifully, Red. It seems like every other day, there's another one. I do think it's all about power and corruption of the mind and spirit.
ReplyDeleteHi Red, I found this to be an interesting post and the comments as well. When all is said and done I think Tom Sightings has the bottom line … we just need to treat one another as human beings.
ReplyDeleteI like to think we're making progress on these issues, but it's always alarming to see how much discrimination, inequity and harassment still goes on.
ReplyDelete