PSY 214 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Erin Pizzey, Rape Fantasy, The Name Game
Document Summary
Submissions to the committee on justice and legal affairs review of bill. Until the first comprehensive overhaul of rape law in canada in 1983, all laws relating to sexual assault were developed by men. Men were responsible for 99% of sexual offences. These laws were made without the regard for the experience and perspective of women and children, creating a pervasively sexually unequal culture. Laws reflected and normalized the unequal rights, roles, and sexual standards assigned by men to women. Due to sexual inequality both the common law and criminal code permitted discriminatory legal treatment of sexual assault complainants. Until 1983 husbands were legally entitled to rape their wives. Most of the rules governing rape had to have evidence (rules governing the proof for the complainants reputation for chastity, rules admitting evidence of the complainant"s sexual history as an indicator of her propensity to lie) It was very difficult to provide evidence for rape, as most occurred in private places.