Joanna Lumley: Playing Devil's Advocate?

[ChillDoubt]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/being-patted-on-the-bottom-is-not-assault-says-joanna-lumley-9273054.html

I know the headline of the piece is a very contentious issue but in the article as a whole she gives a common sense appraoch to the current hostorical offences debacle.

[pixie373]

It depends who it is. It's wrong in positions of power, imo- your boss etc, or obviously those underage. In general terms, I'm not sure most people consider it assault?

[ummmm]

She said in the article that getting your bum slapped wasn't assault. That I agree with but didn't any of these people that have made historical just claim to have had their bums slapped?

[pixie373]

Unlikely, i think, ummmm. A lot of rapes seem to go unreported, i can't imagine many would report a bum-slap..how full would the police stations be?!

[sherrardk]

She talks about a nun telling them 'not to lead men on ... because they get to a point where they can't stop'. What utter ***. It's like those judges who say someone who was wearing a short skirt or was drunk was asking for it.

[askyourgran]

I think she's right. Years ago men were much more chauvenistic, they would cuddle and pet a woman without a thought of 'a womens rights', women didn't really have any in those days . Only if the woman turned to them and made an issue of it ie, 'told them off' in no uncertain terms then usually the behaviour would stop. Occasionally with an apology, after an irate husband or boyfriend gave them a bunch of fives. Now it is different, men are more aware that they should keep their hands to themselves unless the lady in question is making a play for them.

[sherrardk]

Bum slapping is a completely different matter to sexual assault.

[Jeza]

I worked in engineering and it was predominately a male environment. There was one man who kept slapping my ass. After a lot of thought wondering how to deal with it I put loads of coins in my back pockets. Next time he slapped me the really hurt his finger ends and never did it again. Today things are different, back in the 70's telling them to stop was laughed at.

[joggerjayne]

I think JL is right about the specific point, ie bum slapping.

I hope I wouldn't get into trouble just for giving a guy a squeeze on the butt.