Self Defense for Women NOW! » rape

Roman Polanski Gets Bail

Liza Cooper — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:20:20 +0000

Roman Polanski’s saga takes a surprising turn when Swiss authorities granted his request for bail. He had been arrested on an outstanding warrant for fleeing the US subsequent to his sentencing for the rape of a 13 year-old in 1977.

The granting of the request came as a surprise to Swiss legal experts and US authorities. He will be subject to house arrest where he will be confined to his chalet in the exclusive winter resort of Gstaad. According to the AP, Polanski offered up a bank guarantee and the threat of forfeiting his family’s home.

Stay tuned.

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Rape Attitudes and the US Senate: We Have a Long Way to Go, Baby

Liza Cooper — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:28:28 +0000

Gang rape is OK when Halliburton employees commit it. That’s the takeaway message from the 30 Republican senators who voted against an amendment to prohibit the Pentagon from contracting with firms that force women employees to agree not to sue companies if they are raped as a result of their employment.

Their rationale? The Government shouldn’t be writing the contracts of private companies–even when those companies are contractors of the US government receiving taxpayer money.

If you are not familiar with the story, a 19 year old Halliburton employee was gang raped, then forced into a locker when she attempted to report the crime. When she finally returned to the US she went public amd tried to sue her employer. Halliburton defended itself by pointing to a clause in its employment contract denying employees recourse in the judicial system.

Thankfully, the amendment passed. In the words of John Stewart “isn’t that a no-brainer?”

Kudos to the brave woman for standing up. That anyone could defend such a state of affairs is appalling, and a statement of how far we have yet to go.

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Rape – A Crime to Fear

Liza Cooper — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:34:47 +0000

Rape is the most common serious crime against women. Although the reported incidence varies somewhat from year to year, most authorities agree that the number of rapes far exceeds the numbers actually reported.

Rape is a very serious crime. Actually, it is serious enough to be legally classified right up there with murder and robbery as the most serious of crimes. Even if a minimum of force is used to carry out the rape, the possible consequences to the woman (pregnancy, AIDS, herpes, other venereal disease, and post-traumatic physical and psychological effects) are extreme, severe, and very long lasting.

There are many different kinds of rapists, ranging from the easily discouraged to the sociopath who has decided that he won’t stop until you are dead, or he is.

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