If judges think women who date online ‘would have sex with anyone’, we’re really in trouble | Chitra Ramaswamy

According to the barrister Helena Kennedy, some judges have woefully outdated views. No wonder courts let women down

What do you think of women who date online? Do you a) wish them luck and then lose interest, because it’s none of your damn business b) worry, because it’s tough out there with the threat of sexual violence, blocking of ethnic groups (known in non-tech speak as racism), misogyny and people who think the way to your heart is with a tiger selfie or c) think it means they will sleep with anyone. If you answered c, you are at best woefully out of touch, at worst an old-school sexist. And, quite possibly, a British judge.

According to Helena Kennedy QC, speaking at London’s annual Bar conference, there are judges who think women who date online “would have sex with anyone”. Let’s take a moment to digest this double whammy. First, the view that women who date online – it is estimated that one in five people now meet their partners via the internet – are a bit desperate and would thus have sex with anyone. Second, the victim-blaming that goes hand in hand with this particular brand of retrograde sexism. The next step? Dating online makes you responsible for what happens to you.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2ReTchz