"I have to agree. What the guy did was simple battery and would be a crime in the states as well. My only question, which the article doesn't answer, was did he get a greater sentence because the court found this was sexual harassment? I would have a problem with that for the same reason I have a problem with all these hate crime statutes."
I doubt it came from any hate crime laws, which, I agree, are assinine. I think it's more that Italy, which has had an atrocious history of dealing with rape victims, is now finally cracking down. They may be over-zealous, but I think they'll self-correct.
What irritates me about people who think a woman getting groped is no big deal - aside from the fact that we should all, male or female, have the right to our bodies - is that they assume that any woman who might be offended is some kind of uptight feminist witch who wants to castrate all men. They think the women need to lighten up and just accept the so-called compliment of having a man pat their ass. It never occurs to them that some women might rightly interpret it as a threat. I had a dear friend who was molested as a child. It took her years of therapy to even get her to the point where she could hold a man's hand. For some guy to grope her on the street would've absolutely traumatized her.
Most of us enjoy a whistle or good-natured catcall, but keep your hands to yourself, guys.
Most of us enjoy a whistle or good-natured catcall, but keep your hands to yourself, guys.
It is extremely disturbing to me too. I can't describe how horrifying it is to lose the right to keep someone else's hands off of you....if you complain, you are told you are being overly emotional, that it is all in fun, that they are just playing etc. And if your little round bottom is OK, how about your breast? But they are soooo cute! Hey, a pinch here or a tickle there can't be so wrong, now can it? Oops, hand slipped between your legs! Thanks OK darlin', we're just playin' ;)
Well, it isn't OK! Male or female, touching another person anywhere without invite is wrong. VERY wrong. Period. Like steeling property, just because you see it, doesn't give you rights to it.
Just 'effin damn. Don't get me started.