Rape was not a crime in France until 1980?

[somone]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-23/strauss-kahn-new-york-case-may-curb-libertine-ways-of-powerful-french-men.html

Strauss-Kahn New York Case May Curb Libertine Ways of Powerful French Men

The arrest in New York of former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of attempted rape is forcing men to watch what they say and emboldening women to challenge the modern-day version of France’s “droit de cuissage,” a feudal practice giving masters the right to have sex with female servants... Early reactions from male French commentators to the maid’s allegations sparked outrage. Jean-Francois Kahn, founder of weekly magazine Marianne and a witness at Strauss-Kahn’s third marriage in 1991, laughed as he said on state-owned radio station France Culture, that “there may have been a careless action, how should I put it… the shagging of a servant.” He later apologized...

While sexual assault and attempted rape allegations that Strauss-Kahn is accused of in New York are also crimes in his home country, the French have been more indulgent when it comes to the indiscretions of their politicians. “Earlier, kings had their droit de cuissage with servants in palaces; this looked like a powerful person trying it on a maid in a New York hotel,” Jean Quatremer, a journalist with newspaper Liberation, said in an interview...

The laissez-faire attitude gives powerful people in France a sense of impunity, said Claude Katz an attorney, specializing in sexual harassment cases. The Strauss-Kahn affair “can move the lines slowly but surely,” Katz said. “It will empower victims of sexual abuse in France because if a maid can speak against a powerful man, others will have a stronger voice.”

Laws reinforcing women’s rights and safety are relatively recent in France. The law making rape a crime dates back only to 1980. Earlier decrees were based on 19th century moral codes. A law on sexual-harassment was approved in 1992 and one on moral harassment was passed in 2002. The last bill to fight violence against women was passed last year. Government studies show there are 75,000 rapes a year in the country. Only about 10 percent of the victims filed complaints, women’s groups say...

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. The laws were reformed in 1980

eg:

Formerly, French legislation on rape was both ineffective and unrealistic: on the one hand, it was based solely on social considerations; on the other hand, theoretical rights were rarely put into practice, and the number of rape prosecutions was insignificant compared with the acknowledged cases of rape. Henceforth, the psychological implications and consequences of sexual assault will be considered routinely, and any physician of the rape victim's choosing will be allowed to provide evidence of rape. The new law will facilitate the initiation of civil suits on behalf of rape victims. Moreover, it will permit the rape victim herself to determine how much publicity will be given to the assault and to the rape prosecution. All proceedings will be held in camera at her request. The rape victim has always been at the center of the problems created by rape laws. Until now she was often treated as the guilty party, a circumstance that allowed many proven rapists to escape prosecution. If the law of December 23, 1980, is enforced, the rape victim will become the absolute master of the rape prosecution, in defiance of several fundamental principles of the penal process.

http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/Abstract.aspx?id=90919

Incorrect to say 'it was not a crime', I think.

[uppityperson]

2. Thank you. Yes, it was a crime, but the law was reformed then.

"not a crime"? wtf?

[seabeyond]

5. Until now she was often treated as the guilty party,

what good is a law when it is useless?

[roguevalley]

3. so they feel its a right because kings etc etc. what a bunch of shit.

[inna]

4. Freedom Fries 2.0. ignorant/misleading France-bashing is sickening.

[sufrommich]

6. What is sickening is comparing serious feminist issues to fake

freedom fries bullshit.

[seabeyond]

7. By Helene Fouquet . written by a woman that "sounds" french. is it fr bashing when it is the french

doing the bashing, discussing an issue with their nation. an issue that has ill effected on a large group in their nation.

this is bashing to you?