A variant of the reasonable person can be found in sexual harassment law as the reasonable woman standard. The variation recognizes a difference between men and women regarding the effect of unwanted interaction with a sexual tone. As women have historically been more vulnerable to rape and sex-related violence than have men, courts believe that the proper perspective for evaluating a claim of sexual harassment is that of the reasonable woman.posted by ocherdraco at 4:58 AM on November 9, 2009 [10 favorites]
Arguing that Special Interest X should make way for Important Issue™ Y because “it’s so much more important”, especially when this is done in another person’s space, is disruptive. It is a very common trolling tactic, as well as a long acknowledged as a cheap rhetorical trick: just another red herring.posted by shii at 7:30 AM on November 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Not all people who use it are doing so in bad faith, but even when one is genuinely and adamantly of the opinion that discussing X is a waste of time in light of the importance of Y, it is still inappropriate to disrupt other people’s discussion, not to mention that it is unlikely to make them sympathetic to your arguments.
Legal definitions of stalking require victims to experience a high level of fear. This paper examines the effect of gender on fear from stalking encompassing a range of fear levels beyond the legal definition. I will demonstrate that fear is a gendered concept, therefore legal definitions of stalking based on fear are gender biased. Using regression analysis, it was determined that females experience fear at a higher rate than males, and the same stalking behaviors lead to a more intense fear for females than males.I think it's interesting in a lot of ways, including gender bias against men in legal definitions, but I think it's particularly illuminating in terms of this conversation that faced with identical circumstances, women self-report a much, much higher fear rating than men do. I wonder if this is why so much of what many women said in that thread has come as such a revelation to some readers.
The extent to which Greek legislation ignores the issue of sexual harassment is particularly problematic considering the pervasiveness of the problem. Few studies have been conducted in Greece regarding sexual harassment, and those that have been conducted are based on very small population samples. Nonetheless, what is apparent from these studies is that sexual harassment affects over 70 percent of women in Greece, is typically perpetrated by superiors, and is not perceived by the harassers as constituting harassment. In the absence of a national survey on the issue, two non-governmental organizations, the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), published a report entitled, “Violence against Women in Greece” in July 2001. GHM and OMCT prepared the report for the Exceptional Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, held from August 5-23, 2002. The report was based on information collected from ten discussion groups with Greek women.posted by languagehat at 9:08 AM on November 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
While the majority of the women in the studies had experienced sexual harassment, few had reliable information about how to handle it. None of the women participating in the study had received any information about sexual harassment at work, and most learned what little they knew from the media. All of the women participating in the study understood the concept of harassment, but some considered harassment as being limited to the actions of superiors, not those of co-workers.
The women reported sexual harassment by superiors, customers, and other co-workers, taking the form of direct and indirect advances, humiliating compliments, and offers of money to spend the night. One group of sexually harassed women said that when they challenged their harassers, they were told that the actions of the harassers were paternal. The youngest women in the group explained that often their acceptance of sexual advances determined whether or not they were hired.
dagny: If this is the worst problem these women are having, then good on them. Too bad they can't focus on the luxury of being able to feel annoyed at such minor insecurities, as opposed to suffering from real oppressionRead more if you dare.
falameufilho: But anyway, *YAWN*. This feminazi talk reminds me of college, and I didn't really like colleg.
stbalbach: Look, there was a time when women wanted equality. Great. Now some women want revenge. They want more than equality they want superiority, pay back. If she really liked you she wouldnt try to change you. How about an organization that protests %80 of all rapes in prison are commited on males
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 5:52 PM on November 7, 2009