Helen Mirren Sparks Rape Debate

Hmmm… I would say she sounds nutty but what she really sounds like is one of those women who has spent to much time buying into men’s views of herself and other women. either/or I’d like to see the research that backs that statement up…

I absolutely think Helen Mirren is one of the best actresses on Earth. Maybe she has some special knowledge about this issue that I don’t, especially if she was date raped. That being said, in my humble opinion, I think if I had a good lawyer who could speak for me and my case, it might not matter whether the jury were mostly women or men. In my opinion further, I would hope that the jury would understand via my lawyer that rape is not an issue of sexual attraction, rather the issue of power. If that were made very clear to the jury, I myself would rather have more women on the jury, because I think women can identify with that power issue. I’m not sure that men would see things that way (that power is the issue) because in my experience, they are oblivious to the notion that they “do that to women”, i.e. use power over women in every day situations, much less to rape a woman.

Have you ever been on a jury? Fickle is a word that comes to mind. Sitting in a jury room, one woman voted to convict totally based on the fact the witness against the defense was Catholic. “She is Catholic, so what she said is true.” No further discussion.

I may get a lot of heat for this, but I agree with Helen Mirren. Women on a rape case are not as forgiving. It’s not all about what the lawyer says, it’s the feelings/prejudices of the jury.

Most rape case I’ve seen are hard to prove in court. Sometime even with the DNA sample it’s still a hard case. And the women if pregnant she will have the punishment of raise the child for the next 18 years or so. Why is it some men don’t even get punished?
Now I know there are some women who did get pregnant and then married the man. Sometimes thing do work out. I’m talking about the cases I’ve seen where the lady did not want to get pregnant, certainly not by rape. Now that she is pregnant it’s the big question of how to handle the child. Not all cases do they give up the child and not all cases do the properly take care of the child.

Her remarks put me in mind of the daughter who tells her mother that dad or the guy mom’s with “touched” her. So many just either refuse to believe it or suggest it is the fault of the innocently uninhibited behavior of the child … Mirren strikes me that way — uninhibited, not purposefully with evil doing her intent, just her nature. Whatever, no matter who is on the jury, rape is something almost impossible to prove unless there were witnesses or bruising violence involved. And I remember a time in my long life when just the fact of being divorced meant that no one would believe you … When I think about the 13-year-old Afghanistan girl who was raped by three men and then stoned to death because they believe it was her sin, I realize all this is just a matter of degree, not kind. What a world!

I don’t have first hand experience about this. But Helen’s comment’s come across as very dated perhaps because of her own experience’s happening decades ago. Although not perfect view’s on rape have really progressed over the years. No mean’s No! Having said that I still think Helen Mirren rocks!

If anything, I could see men on a jury perhaps feeling protective of a rape victim and being more biased on the side of the woman. But that doesn’t mean that women on a jury would be more biased AGAINST the woman, perhaps just not as protective. Also, I think Mirren’s experience probably happened a long time ago when even the subject of rape was more taboo and her comments have little relevance today.

Have to agree with her. Having been a previous victim of office gossip, it’s amazing to me just how vicious women will be towards one another. All it takes is for the wrong woman to get jealous or just mad because you didn’t give in to her bossy attitude. Next thing you know, people give you strange looks or obviously going out of their way to not pass you in the hall. We are a strange brew.

Totally agree with Helen…Don’t look here at WoW for a jury of your peers if your a woman, LOL!

I agree with the belief that the responsibility should always be on the woman making the charge to prove a rape has taken place. The Duke case is a perfect example of where the mere accusation can cause havoc in the lives of those who were unjustly charged. I believe women do use the charge of rape as a form of punishment against men. And I also believe this is why it is so hard for women who REALLY were raped to get a fair shake.

I think women are definitely harder on other women when it comes to rape. We’re harder on each other in countless areas where we shouldn’t be quite honestly. In instances where a woman is snatched off the street and raped, I think we tend to have more compassion and are more open minded. But in instances of date rape, there is this unspoken belief among our sex that she probably asked for it in some way. Maybe it’s because we know that we do “sometimes” manipulate and purposely throw out mixed signals in terms of sex. But even with that said the first thing that comes to my mind is it shouldn’t make a difference, no means no.

The bottom line is we are harder on one another when it comes to rape. Think of the way we judge one another on this site all on superficial data such as a Avatar or political view, we can be vicious and rude. We write off some who post as being this or that, without really knowing them. So why would anyone expect a heightened degree of respect or discernment on a subject such as rape?

Perhaps we SHOULD be harder on each other, knowing how easy it is to falsely accuse a man of rape. If we didn’t have so many false accusations, we could have justice for the real victims. I know this can be very hard to prove at times, which is probably why it is easy to abuse. I was a victim of date rape, but I still very much believe that a falsely accused man is just as much a victim. Crying rape out of embarrassment or for revenge doesn’t benefit anyone!

Rape is violence against a woman, period.

“Mirren speculates that “sexually jealous” women may tend to blame their peers for a rape.”

That is an incredible point of view from a woman who says she herself was raped. It makes no sense. Are women jealous of violence against another woman? Of course not. And it is violence, a show of power, too often the prelude to murder. I used to respect Helen Mirren. I hope this interview was misquoted.

Helen aure knows how to bug people. Sounds pretty true to me - women are beastly to each other.

But this is just weird - “This is just such an ignorant thing to say, to suggest that the defense or prosecution have any involvement in the selection of a jury.” In the US they have everything to do with picking a jury and Helen lives here most of the year - so Ms UK lawyer lady better watch the name calling.