Question H

[Jonetta]

The attitudes about the murdered girls suggested that they brought their deaths upon themselves and the man/men that killed them shouldn’t be punished. Did that surprise you? Were you disappointed in Lars’ sentence? Any comparisons to modern day attitudes?

[Robin]

I really don't think it's that much different today. If a prostitute is found murdered, there are still many who believe that they brought it on themselves. The police do investigate now, but there is a big different in news coverage between a prostitute being murdered and a housewife or a college student being murdered.

I don't remember what sentence Lars received for murdering Gerda. I do remember somewhere in the book it was mentioned that a guy would be in trouble for assaulting a stranger, but there was no problem if he was beating his wife.

[Jonetta]

It’s really sad that we haven’t evolved very much. It’s also still an uphill battle for women in abusive relationships.

Lars got 20 years.

[Charlene]

I agree that most of what passes now for enlightenment and fair treatment under the law is politically correct speech more than deeper emotions and subliminal "stuff."

[Jonetta]

I think it’s because, before now, the lawmakers are men and many really haven’t taken this as seriously as they should, often protecting the perpetrators (point to the light sentence that student from Stanford received for rape). I’m not sure it’s political correctness so much as insensitivity to the issue. And, I won’t limit this to men. Some of the schools that have protected these boys were headed by women.

[Charlene]

You make really good points, Jonetta. I was using "politically correct" in a sense that perhaps many men (and some women) say what they hear is correct. Oh, I can't find the right words here.

[Jonetta]

Oh, I get what you mean, Charlene. No worries!

[Lauren]

Unfortunately, you are all 100% right.
Attitudes haven't changed one bit. Too often I hear that it is the woman's fault for dressing provocatively, "tempting" a man, behaving inappropriately. Surely men can control themselves ... or not...

I truly believe it is all about education. Until the "boys will be boys" attitude changes, women will continue to be attacked and men will too often get away with it completely or receive minor sentences.

[Robin]

Lauren wrote: "I truly believe it is all about education. Until the "boys will be boys" attitude changes, women will continue to be attacked and men will too often get away with it completely or receive minor sentences. "

Well said.

[~ Giulia ~]

The other day on the newspaper there was an article about a man who repeatedly beat up his girlfriend. After a particularly serious episode, he finally got arrested and was given a sentence of 3-4 years. They put him at house arrest near where the girlfriend lived; one month later he was already beating her up again, and again. They did nothing about it, until he eventually killed her.
It seems they've given him the "life sentence", which with good behaviour can mean about 21 years before going on parole (forgive me I'm not sure that's the exact term); that's not counting temporary licences and daytime release.
It's disheartening to know so little has changed.

[Jonetta]

That’s awful, Giulia. It’s time we start making our issues a priority and elect people who will take them seriously.

[Christina T]

I touched on this exact thing a few questions ago and it pisses me off to no end. Those who don't believe in things like rape culture perpetuate the problem. Victim blaming is still alive today in most countries but I find it incredibly abhorrent in America where too many American's believe in our "superiority" yet things like Brock Turner raping an unconscious woman and getting a wrist slap happen every day.

So back to this particular book knowing things like this happen, still, in the 21st century makes it even bleaker when diving into the beginning of the 1900s. Women were objects who were only around to entertain, feed, and cater to men. They were owned by men and their worth was determined by men. ARG!

[Jonetta]

They couldn’t even vote during this era. So, they really had no voice.

I don’t even like to think about that Brock Turner case. That fool is trying to get a new trial now because being labeled as a sex offender is really annoying.