The decision by the House of Lords that a man accused of rape has to do nothing more than establish he thought that his victim had given consent Now it is the woman who will go on trial. She will have to disprove her attacker's allegation that 'she really wanted it'. Rape is painful and brutal. The House of Lords are insinuating that women really enjoy it.
SnC CeeSOI OC BOusC Olcou shows the attitude towards women and sex that predominates in capitalist society.
They see the tunction of women as to orovde a service wnea-amouga unes might not enjoy it-they must suffer to The ruling class cannot imagine women as naving any omer roles than tnose o. submissive housewives and satisfiers of men's 'needs'. The legal guardians of capitalist society have a vested interest in keeping women in 'their place' and will "tolerate' any brutalities that perpetuate OPPOSITION Labour MP Jack Ashley has opposed the decision of the House of Lords and is demanding that the House of Commons overrule their decision. But Ashley's opposition is very limited and does not go to the root of the issue. The decision of the House of Lords merely rounds off logicany te present laws on rape. Evel before the decision any woman who complained of rape ran the danger of being Defence counsels have always had a SaVOURe nCKO Tme To esmoIsA EIt victim's so-called promiscuity, using every available means to prove she had lots of Jack Ashley, like all social democrats is only interested in tampering about with the system. He does not take up the fight for women's sexuality and therefore cannot mount a real challenge to the House Or LOras deCison By their ruling they endorse the view that a rapist is only taking to its logical conclusion: the idea of the ruling class that the job of women is to lie still and get pregnant when needed. Of course most people do not take those ideas to the conclusion of violent rape. But most men wiw tue mask wom ov tue kuiers or i and attitude to women.
Ashley might protest at the abuse of the system, but unless you attack the system it is impossible to deal with the sexual vanues trom wilch anoe anses The ruling class will do everything in their power to preserve the family and there by maintain the inferior position of women in society. The fight for the emancipation or women means chauenging capransu and all its laws, not simply discussing som amendments in the House of Commons ••othe last word (from The Guardiar 8/5/" 75)
Sir-Following your report of the Lords" decision on sape, VOU TIK aL e can persuadt myself that in spite of all-the evidence to contrasy Ian Lord Sient, I shall be permitted to shoplift in Marks and Spen cers WILL LA PULLY TOUL truly, Nina Jennings.
London NW :
Cathal Goulding, Officials leader.
TOM Conference The National Labour Movement Delegate Conference on Ireland organised by the Troops Out Movement, which takes place in London on Saturday 24 May, is con tinuing to gain support in the labour move ment. The conference is open to delegate from trade union branches, trades councils shop steward committees, Labour Party constituency parties or branches, LPYS branches, and branches of the National Union of Students only.
Credentials are available at 75p pes delegate from TOM, 103 Hammersmith Road, London W.14. Further informatios can be obtained from 01-602 1899.
What is the Irish Republican Socialist Party? Why has it broken with the Officials?
Mike Plunkett, national secre tary of the IRSP, is speaking at a number of meetings in Britain or ganised by the IMG and the I6.
SUN 18 MAY-2.30pm in the Polytechnic Union, Cavendish House, All Saints, Manchester.
MON 19 MAY-12.45pm in Meeting Room C at the Univer sity Union, Oxford Road, At both meetings IMG and IS