DSK: sex, power and gender violence
If confirmed as Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF Managing Director, committed the aggression of which he is accused, our democracies should close ranks and articulate a unanimous condemnation of sexual abuse
and Stephanie HENNETTE RUTH RUBIO-Vauchez
Dominique Strauss-Kahn is innocent. And it is, because the rule of law it supports the presumption of innocence. Basilar This principle of criminal law requires a process with all due before we can say that DSK is a criminal, as this is, after all, what is being heard. After long battles
feminists have succeeded in broadly criminalize these offenses
The fear of losing further explains that impunity, collusion and silence still reigns
Beyond the lack of certainty, what is understandable is that the sudden collapse of a DSK icon like that in his person had all the features statistically representative of power (both political, economic, global and male!) has shaken the world. And therefore understandable that the entire world is gauging what the consequences might have on the future of the IMF, financial crisis, the euro or the presidential elections and the Socialist Party in France.
is surprising, however, (or maybe not) that largely absent, so far, is a reflection on what the issue may have implications not only for the life of the woman allegedly abused (of which only one source The United States has reported that there has not been able to return home or to work, afraid of losing their jobs and lose their source of livelihood in condition of mother and widow), but for half the world population, which forms the sex and women who statistically falls this type of violence. And it's surprising because there are good reasons to believe that the matter should be addressed more DSK and DSK phenomenon, emphasizing that it is systemic, and allowing us to connect the dots. For any, Hayles.
The range of the "sex scandals" of male politicians in recent times is broad and goes in crescendo. Some of the incidents of marital infidelity (the most recent, "Schwarzenegger ?), Is condemned by the Puritan ethic but, ultimately, all ethics, Puritan or not, just an act of compromise exonerating typically attend the characterization of what happened as something that affects private life: the rehabilitation of the family order threatened by a gesture of forgiveness offered publicly by the unfaithful husband ( matter Bill / Hillary Clinton ) and the background of a society that understands and tolerate a man of power is, almost by definition, a seducer of women.
lot would have to say about the forms of violence that have historically been forgiven under the doctrine of family privacy. Suffice it to say that doctrine for centuries has prevented visible that in patriarchal societies, expressions of dominance and affection not only characterize the conjugal relationship, which, among us, has led to examples such as the thoroughbred of unpunished abuses of the "Master" to "servant." In any case what is impressive is the strength of his legacy when we see that as a "sex" and "private" are still condoning many other forms of abuse of power. This includes those that are, first, in the areas public paradigmatically (the world of work and policy) and other situations in which the relationship of hierarchical superiority of man over the woman he having sex is so clear that one can not but be wary of free expression (Cases Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky, Dominique Strauss-Kahn/Piroska Nagy ). More serious still is, of course, think that even the forms of abuse of power unquestionably criminal can be found within the life and career of the great politicians. Think not only in DSK, who is now charged with attempted rape and sexual abuse, but also a time when Silvio Berlusconi, accused of child prostitution and abuse of power.
But where the public imagination, fascinated by the attraction exerted atavistic power, remains obsessed with the alleged perpetrator and adjectives are thrown awkwardly seek explanations and inevitably serve to exonerate and reinforce stereotypes ("womanizer, seducer, sick, addicted .. "). the law comes to the rescue of the alleged victim restoring its status as subjects of rights and recalling that the right protection as an expression of autonomy and intimacy is a consenting sexuality. It is for this reason that even accepting that it may be true of the phenomenon of sexual attraction exerted irresistible "men of power" is not obliged to make a difference. That in turn tycoon mind seduction, coercion and violence get mixed into one, and that in any case, in the collective consciousness reigns common understanding that neither error nor bad faith have to pay expensive, it is This explains the phenomenon DSK, which otherwise is, in fact, hardly understandable. How, if no, explain that, if true, someone of his stature, known in Parisian circles all for their active sexual life, I have been playing all through a rough dirt?
At this point it is worth remembering that draws the line separating law sex subjugation, the line between legitimate private (sexual privacy of individuals) and what, by definition, can not be a private matter (the behavior criminal) even if some members of the French Socialist Party will endeavor to suggest otherwise. After long battles feminists have succeeded in the legal systems of Western democracies, still far from truly effective tools in the fight against gender violence, broadly criminalize offenses against sexual freedom. In doing so, reflect an understanding that the abuse of power occurs not only when the basis of sex is violence or intimidation. Just the lack of consent, since only the free consent. To demonstrate lack of consent should not be resilient to violence (the "yes" is what is needed, and "no", sufficient expression of lack thereof). And to be valid consent can not be vitiated by a situation of manifest superiority between victim and offender with sufficient authority to curtail the freedom of the first.
However, the present case may not give so many shades, but should prepare the reader no doubt as defense lawyers try so, when no other excuse. And in some sense we find an outlier. Powerful men commit sexual abuse with impunity, no one in the background, as doubt. Arrivals that "your word against mine" the female voice crying the "I said no!" be able to have the same resonance that the male, in authority, denies illusory. For that reason, and for fear of losing no more, victims and friends opt for silence (Case DSK-Tristano Banon ) sad, but not surprising. And everything comes together and says that impunity, collusion and silence still reigns. So apparently confirmed his profile, the issue DSK offers a historic occasion because, if committed, sexual offense was without that mediate personal, family or work of any kind, violence and a "no" expressed resistance force, and left footprints.
may be the occasion for a textbook case of it takes so that our democracies, including some (such as French or English) joint call themselves men and women of all political ideologies, starting settled in power, close ranks and mount a condemnation. For now disappointed that the French Socialist Party rally give fair instructions to the contrary. Waste, silence and impunity continue attacked mercilessly in the bodies of allowing women, rather than citizens, our political leaders continue seeing them as consumer goods freely available. Say What? As a can of coca-cola from a hotel minibar: open, if necessary by forcing its closure, drink and strip. The important thing is that it will splatter and stain to a suit.
Ruth Rubio Marin is Professor of Comparative Public Law, European University Institute, Florence, on leave from the University of Seville. Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez is professor Law of the University of Paris West Nanterre La Défense.
If confirmed as Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF Managing Director, committed the aggression of which he is accused, our democracies should close ranks and articulate a unanimous condemnation of sexual abuse
and Stephanie HENNETTE RUTH RUBIO-Vauchez
Dominique Strauss-Kahn is innocent. And it is, because the rule of law it supports the presumption of innocence. Basilar This principle of criminal law requires a process with all due before we can say that DSK is a criminal, as this is, after all, what is being heard. After long battles
feminists have succeeded in broadly criminalize these offenses
The fear of losing further explains that impunity, collusion and silence still reigns
Beyond the lack of certainty, what is understandable is that the sudden collapse of a DSK icon like that in his person had all the features statistically representative of power (both political, economic, global and male!) has shaken the world. And therefore understandable that the entire world is gauging what the consequences might have on the future of the IMF, financial crisis, the euro or the presidential elections and the Socialist Party in France.
is surprising, however, (or maybe not) that largely absent, so far, is a reflection on what the issue may have implications not only for the life of the woman allegedly abused (of which only one source The United States has reported that there has not been able to return home or to work, afraid of losing their jobs and lose their source of livelihood in condition of mother and widow), but for half the world population, which forms the sex and women who statistically falls this type of violence. And it's surprising because there are good reasons to believe that the matter should be addressed more DSK and DSK phenomenon, emphasizing that it is systemic, and allowing us to connect the dots. For any, Hayles.
The range of the "sex scandals" of male politicians in recent times is broad and goes in crescendo. Some of the incidents of marital infidelity (the most recent, "Schwarzenegger ?), Is condemned by the Puritan ethic but, ultimately, all ethics, Puritan or not, just an act of compromise exonerating typically attend the characterization of what happened as something that affects private life: the rehabilitation of the family order threatened by a gesture of forgiveness offered publicly by the unfaithful husband ( matter Bill / Hillary Clinton ) and the background of a society that understands and tolerate a man of power is, almost by definition, a seducer of women.
lot would have to say about the forms of violence that have historically been forgiven under the doctrine of family privacy. Suffice it to say that doctrine for centuries has prevented visible that in patriarchal societies, expressions of dominance and affection not only characterize the conjugal relationship, which, among us, has led to examples such as the thoroughbred of unpunished abuses of the "Master" to "servant." In any case what is impressive is the strength of his legacy when we see that as a "sex" and "private" are still condoning many other forms of abuse of power. This includes those that are, first, in the areas public paradigmatically (the world of work and policy) and other situations in which the relationship of hierarchical superiority of man over the woman he having sex is so clear that one can not but be wary of free expression (Cases Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky, Dominique Strauss-Kahn/Piroska Nagy ). More serious still is, of course, think that even the forms of abuse of power unquestionably criminal can be found within the life and career of the great politicians. Think not only in DSK, who is now charged with attempted rape and sexual abuse, but also a time when Silvio Berlusconi, accused of child prostitution and abuse of power.
But where the public imagination, fascinated by the attraction exerted atavistic power, remains obsessed with the alleged perpetrator and adjectives are thrown awkwardly seek explanations and inevitably serve to exonerate and reinforce stereotypes ("womanizer, seducer, sick, addicted .. "). the law comes to the rescue of the alleged victim restoring its status as subjects of rights and recalling that the right protection as an expression of autonomy and intimacy is a consenting sexuality. It is for this reason that even accepting that it may be true of the phenomenon of sexual attraction exerted irresistible "men of power" is not obliged to make a difference. That in turn tycoon mind seduction, coercion and violence get mixed into one, and that in any case, in the collective consciousness reigns common understanding that neither error nor bad faith have to pay expensive, it is This explains the phenomenon DSK, which otherwise is, in fact, hardly understandable. How, if no, explain that, if true, someone of his stature, known in Parisian circles all for their active sexual life, I have been playing all through a rough dirt?
At this point it is worth remembering that draws the line separating law sex subjugation, the line between legitimate private (sexual privacy of individuals) and what, by definition, can not be a private matter (the behavior criminal) even if some members of the French Socialist Party will endeavor to suggest otherwise. After long battles feminists have succeeded in the legal systems of Western democracies, still far from truly effective tools in the fight against gender violence, broadly criminalize offenses against sexual freedom. In doing so, reflect an understanding that the abuse of power occurs not only when the basis of sex is violence or intimidation. Just the lack of consent, since only the free consent. To demonstrate lack of consent should not be resilient to violence (the "yes" is what is needed, and "no", sufficient expression of lack thereof). And to be valid consent can not be vitiated by a situation of manifest superiority between victim and offender with sufficient authority to curtail the freedom of the first.
However, the present case may not give so many shades, but should prepare the reader no doubt as defense lawyers try so, when no other excuse. And in some sense we find an outlier. Powerful men commit sexual abuse with impunity, no one in the background, as doubt. Arrivals that "your word against mine" the female voice crying the "I said no!" be able to have the same resonance that the male, in authority, denies illusory. For that reason, and for fear of losing no more, victims and friends opt for silence (Case DSK-Tristano Banon ) sad, but not surprising. And everything comes together and says that impunity, collusion and silence still reigns. So apparently confirmed his profile, the issue DSK offers a historic occasion because, if committed, sexual offense was without that mediate personal, family or work of any kind, violence and a "no" expressed resistance force, and left footprints.
may be the occasion for a textbook case of it takes so that our democracies, including some (such as French or English) joint call themselves men and women of all political ideologies, starting settled in power, close ranks and mount a condemnation. For now disappointed that the French Socialist Party rally give fair instructions to the contrary. Waste, silence and impunity continue attacked mercilessly in the bodies of allowing women, rather than citizens, our political leaders continue seeing them as consumer goods freely available. Say What? As a can of coca-cola from a hotel minibar: open, if necessary by forcing its closure, drink and strip. The important thing is that it will splatter and stain to a suit.
Ruth Rubio Marin is Professor of Comparative Public Law, European University Institute, Florence, on leave from the University of Seville. Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez is professor Law of the University of Paris West Nanterre La Défense.
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