Women (and men) need to really start speaking out about Arnie's behavior

[janekat]

This behavior can no longer be condoned (and rewarded).

http://magazine.14850.com/9512/ithindex.html

Percentage of women who will be the victim of sexual assault during their lifetimes: 33%

Percentage of college men who said they would rape if they were "certain they could get away with it": 51%


We need to scream like hell. How is putting your hand up a woman strangers dress and fondling her, statuatory rape (sex with 16 yr old girl) and attacking a woman - trying to pull her bathing suit off and sucking her breast okay?

This man is now Governor of California - the largest state in the U.S.

We need to make this a major issue IMO!!!!

[maxanne]

1. thanks janekat

Nice try.

As you can see, even here at DU - women's issues aren't exactly on the radar. We're being told today, to get over it, we need to give Arnie a chance. We are tacitly being told that we don't matter.

I am really, really fed up with this. :nuke:

[MasonJar]

2. Arianna

I loved Arianna's comment that Swart's governorship will be a "hand's on" one. I do not think that DU condones such behavior. The point is that we Dems need to give the groper time to hang himself.

[maxanne]

3. thanks for the optimism, Mason

but I've been here for a while. There are some guys here who care deeply about women's issues. There are a whole lot who pay us lip service, at best.

This is reflected in society. I didn't see a group of powerful, name Democratic men stand up en masse and condemn Arnie, either.

[juajen]

4. I agree with you,

But we still need to keep the heat on, and alert women in California who might come in contact with him, or women who have already come in contact with him, to keep fighting and outing him. It is no secret that large numbers of men in this country, in particular, are just not into respecting women. Unfortunately, they either overtly or covertly support his antics and disgraceful behavior. I believe that European countries are much more progressive in this regard than we are.

[pippin]

5. it's now open season

and all women will be "fair game." how can sexual harassment laws or policies mean anything now the chief lawmaker of this state is a sexual predator?

[cally]

6. That second statistic is truly frightening

Our society is doing little to teach about sexual predators. I'm fearful that with Arnie's election then this sends a message that treating women like dirt is OK.


One happy note, Jackie Speir, Assemblywoman, wants to increase penalties for behavior like Arnies. That will be a hoot if he is forced to sign it or veto it.

[pmbryant]

11. That second statistic is not believable

From the original post:

Percentage of college men who said they would rape if they were "certain they could get away with it": 51%

It's been over a decade since I was in college, and I know the college I went to wasn't typical, but still I find that "51%" number absolutely, positively, unbelievable.

Where did this number come from? There is no source cited at this link.

:shrug:

--Peter

[janekat]

7. They plan on making this man the "star" of the Republican Party

We can NOT allow this to happen. This needs to become bigger than the Anita Hill situation.

I'm going to start sending letters and e-mails to the media about why they are not covering this...

[cally]

9. Interesting article in SF Chronicle today

about why so many women voted for Arnold. I found it interesting. Mabe I'll go post this in LBN.

Allegations of womanizing didn't affect Schwarzenegger's support




http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/10/09/state0441EDT0024.DTL

[pippin]

8. the predator

[Iverson]

10. I agree entirely.

I think it would be a good idea to use Arnold as the entry point for discussion, but tie it in to the broader culture. This is about civilization, not political party.