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From: gkloker@utai.UUCP (Geoff Loker)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: ``they'' vs *US*
Message-ID: <524@utai.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-May-85 11:26:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: utai.524
Posted: Fri May 24 11:26:25 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 24-May-85 12:41:44 EDT
References: <186@timeinc.UUCP> <442@sftri.UUCP> <198@timeinc.UUCP>
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 59

> In article <442@sftri.UUCP> mom@sftri.UUCP (Mark Modig) writes:
> >
> >The trouble with your analogy is that it falls apart too soon.  The
> >situations are not synonymous, to wit:
> >
> >Defendant: I'm sorry, Judge, but when I saw those bills hanging about
> >           of his pockets I couldn't help myself.
> >
> >Judge: No excuse.  Take him away.
> >
> >*** VS. ***
> >
> >Defendant:  I'm sorry, Judge, but when I saw her dressed like that,
> >I just couldn't help myself.
> >
> >Judge:  I guess so.  Well, we'll just have to take the provocative dress
> >        account...
> >
> >The second case here still happens all too often, with the judge now
> >musing about questions like "Did she ask for it?".
> 
> Really??? Mark, this might be another one of those myths that
> somebody was talking about becoming inherent in this group.  When, in
> the last *ten* years have you ever heard of a case where a judge would
> even consider this type of foolishness??

It happens.  About 1-2 months ago, there was a furor over a judge here
in Ontario who made some rather sexist remarks before sentencing a man
for raping an exotic dancer.  I don't remember the details exactly, but
the gist of it is:

      The woman worked in an occupation which inspired lust in
      men and was therefore in a high risk occupation for rape
      to happen.  (This totally ignoring the fact that the man
      accused of raping her had waited for some time outside the
      stage door, so how could lust have had anything to do with
      it?)

Result of the trial?  The accused was given a light sentence -- I guess
the judge felt that there were extenuating circumstances (he couldn't
help himself [the accused, not the judge]?).

I don't know if the sentence has been reconsidered, but there was 
definitely a review of the judge's appointment to the bench.  I think,
but am not sure, that he is no longer sitting in judgement.  (Three
cheers if that is true.)

Please, no remarks about Canada being a backwards nation -- we aren't.

-- 
Geoff Loker
Department of Computer Science
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
M5S 1A4

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