«We share French feminist indignation at the deliberate and opportunistic confusion of seduction and sexual violence», write a group of feminists in an international petition in support of the rights of the victims of sexual violence, and in particular the plaintiff in the case of sexual assault for which Dominique Strauss-Kahn was charged in New York this month.
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Rape is always about power and domination; it is sexualized violence.
Rape and sexual harassment of women are pervasive at all strata of society and in all corners of the globe. Women will never be fully free and able to enjoy equality with men until this ends. As feminists, we see the arrest of former International Monetary Fund director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on sexual assault charges as an opportunity to increase public awareness and as a wake-up call to renew action against sexual violence, not only in the US where his arrest occurred and in France, where media and many public figures are portraying him as the victim, but around the world.
We join French feminists in saying that just as Strauss-Kahn is innocent until proven guilty, his accuser must also be respected and believed to be credible unless proven false. We commend her employer, Sofitel, and the action of the NYC Police for taking her complaint seriously. We call for feminists around the world to join with her union (New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council Local 6) in collecting funds for legal and daily expenses, as her work is now curbed and life circumstances vastly altered. Contributions can be sent to Judson Memorial Church (attention Women's Fund) 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1018.
We also share French feminist indignation at the deliberate and opportunistic confusion of seduction and sexual violence, from Strauss-Kahn's declaration that he "loves women," to the journalists and politicians who rally behind this "Great Seducer." It is outrageous that the allegation of attempted rape during the course of a housekeeper's work day raises issues about this woman's life story and sexual history. And portraying powerful Strauss-Kahn as "too civilized" to commit a violent crime plays upon colonial and racist stereotypes vis-à-vis an African immigrant woman.
We adamantly oppose all harassment, sexual violence and rape, and we know that when there is a large discrepancy between the power, the wealth and racial hierarchy of the parties involved, justice is even harder to come by. All rapists and harassers believe they are entitled, and often when they are part of the power elite they assume that influence will outweigh the legal protection and freedom from coercion all women should enjoy. Feminists around the world demand that justice be done.
Women of all countries, unite !
This statement was initiated by :
Bettina Aptheker (CA, U.S.), Lori Askeland (OH, U.S.), Eleanor J. Bader (NY, U.S.), Rosalyn Baxandall (NY, U.S.), Halina Bendkowski (Berlin, Germany), Saliha Boussédra (Toulouse, France), Eileen Boris (CA, U.S.), Ariel Dougherty (NM, U.S.), Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (CA, U.S.), Judith Ezekiel (Toulouse, France), Francisca de Haan (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Myrna Hill (CA, U.S.), Merle Hoffman (NY, U.S.), Barrie Karp (NY, U.S.), Bea Kreloff (NY, U.S.), Tobe Levin von Gleichen (Frankfurt, Germany), Ilana Lowy (Paris, France), Fran Luck (NY, U.S.), Claire G. Moses (VA, U.S.), Marge Piercy (MA, U.S.), Fanette Pollack (NY, U.S.), Marilyn Porter (Newfoundland, Canada), Deborah Rosenfelt (MD, US), Kathryn Scarbrough (NJ, U.S.), Donna Schaper (NY, U.S.), Lise Vogel (NY, U.S.), Suzanna Walters (IN, U.S.), Naomi Weisstein (NY, U.S.), Barbara Winslow (NY, U.S.), Laura X (CA, U.S.).
To sign, go here.