Posted by
Mr Boss on Saturday, July 02, 2011 10:48:50 PM
PARIS - Mansouret Anne, the mother of a young woman Who has Dominique Strauss-Kahn Accused of Trying to Rape Her in 2003, Saturday Said That She Was "revolted" by the gleeful reaction of many men in France to the news That The Case Against HAD HIM in New York Been Compromised by Credibility Issues Surrounding accuse history, a hotel housekeeper.
"He&&9;s lied a lot in life history," Said Ms. Mansouret, Whose daughter, Tristane Banon, HAS signaled That She Would file a criminal Complaint Against France in Mr. Strauss-Kahn. "I know Exactly what He Is."
"We issue this young woman Automatically&&9;s testimony," she said. "We Do not Aim question Man Who Lied extravagantly."
Mr. Strauss-Kahn and His male allies, She Said, "do not want a world Where You can not force a woman" to Perform sex acts.
For Ms.Mansouret, WHO HAD urged for years Her Daughter to not speak out Because It Might Her career damage, and Other Women here, Mr. Strauss-Kahn&&9;s arrest in New York in May seemed to Be a turning point, a chance to break the code of silence about sexual harassment and aggression by Powerful figures. Order the issue in France After His release on bail on Friday whether WAS WAS That moment turning yet again.
Many women Took it as a slap Pointed When senior figures in the Socialist Party - the progressive organization in mainstream French politics - Immediately Began speaking of how Mr. Strauss-Kahn Might yet run for the presidency Even though the felony charges Against HAD HIM not-been dropped.
Lionel Jospin, a Socialist form and Prime Minister, Said Mr. Strauss-Kahn HAD been "thrown to the wolves" by the Americans. The Socialist Legislator Jean-Marie Le Guen, Who considers Mr.Strauss-Kahn to Be the victim of a plot, Said, "I hope soon He Will Be Free and Able to the French people look in the eyes once again."
François Pupponi, a Socialist mayor, Said Mr. Strauss-Kahn Should now run for president: "Before May 15 HIM everybody Considered the best candidate. He Was Accused of terrible Things. If it turns out He Is cleared, Why Would not Have The Right ET to Be a presidential candidate? "
Sylvie Kauffmann goal, the first female editor of Le Monde and a train for Washington correspond That newspaper, Said That There has Been HAD "DSK moment" that Will last well Beyond the machismo of the Political Elite.
"I think He&&9;s so badly damaged now, He Will not Be Able to recover in the minds of voters, Especially Women Voters," she said."I would not vote for HIM now, I Would Have purpose before."
There Is a Tendency Among Men "to pretend That nothing HAS Happened," she said. "In the establishment mind, this issue IS not very important. The political class considers this issue of Women and Political Attitudes Toward women not so relevant. Goal I Would Bet That the average vote May Feel Differently. "
Ms. Kauffmann WAS skeptical about Any time revolution in sexual attitudes in France.
"Aim this HAS Opened the Way to a lot of discussion and Debate," she said.
"There&&9;s an awareness and a willingness to speak out There That Was not before. Even if DSK Manages to come back and run, It Will Be Part of the discussion, "she said."He&&9;s still a guy Who Had a sexual encounter with a maid at noon in a luxury suite Before HAVING lunch with His daughter and wife flying back to history."
Even if the sex consensual WAS, as Mr. Strauss-Kahn&&9;s lawyers say, "we&&9;re back to the Bill Clinton problem," Ms. Kauffman said. "DSK Brightest Might Be the guy on the Political scene, But It Showed A Part of That Is His character has a problem in campaign and in a presidency."
Like Ms. Kauffmann Helene Périvier, co-director of the Gender Program at the Institut d&&9;Etudes Politiques in Paris, Agreed That a deeper soul-searching about gender relations HAD started.
"It raised questions That Went Well Beyond history and That Particular case of historical guilt," she said."People started raising questions about Have the relations Between Men and Women in France, and Those questions will not go away."
Ms. Périvier goal, Like Others, Warned That Have That Apparently the inconsistencies emerged in the account of Mr faxless cash advance. Strauss-Kahn&&9;s accused risked discrediting future reports of sexual violence.
"If HE gets Acquitted, the risk Is That Something like this next time Happens Will people point to the precedent," she said. False reports of rape and sexual violence are statistically rare, She Said, "Suffice it intended to cement Doubts and discredit the word of women going to the police in the future."
Olivia Cattan runs a feminist association Called Words of Women, or "Women&&9;s Words." She said she HAD gotten insulting comments on Her Web site from Those Who Said That French feminists HAD beens too quick to Defend the Accused housekeeper Mr. WhoStrauss-Kahn of Raping her "Should Have Remained Silent and." She Said She Was surprised by the reaction of Many Socialists.
"They feel the Give That Will THEY HIM welcome as a hero," she said.
She Is sure Mr. Strauss-Kahn Will Lose Support Among Many voters if ET runs. What worries Her Goal Is That more "Victims of rape take legal action Who Against Their Will now perpetrator Have To PROVE That They Are moral Do not have a police record and never lied." She Fears the box "will cast one more Doubt Testimony of the Victim in a country Where women&&9;s rights are Already ridiculed. "
Natacha Henry, a French writer on women&&9;s issues, WAS more hopeful. "It Is Always difficulty for the victim to Be Heard, But It&&9;s better now, it&&9;s changed Something in the mentality of French women," she said.
She Pointed to the case of Georges Tron, a junior minister Who Was Accused by women inspired by the Strauss-Kahn to come forward with Prosecution charges of Attempted rape. Mr. Tron Had to resign from the government and now, After year investigation, faces rape charges.
"This box HAS Empowered women, Even if this one Is not the Virgin Mary," Ms. Henry Said of the housekeeper in the New York case. "She&&9;s a real Human Being Who has made Mistakes."
As An example of How Things Were Beginning to change, Ms. Kauffmann Pointed interview last week to a year in the newspaper Le Parisien with Laurence Parisot, Who runs the union of Largest Employers in France.
"Sexism IS racism," Ms. Parisot Said bluntly, Openly speaking about the French Political Life in Misogyny and sexism in the ITS Many of enterprises. The interview WAS Widely Discussed in the French media and on talk shows. The DSKaffair "is going to Contribute to Liberating speech," Ms. Parisot said. "No longer fear to speak," She Told young women.
Anne-Marie Le Gloannec, director of research at the Center for International Studies and Research at the Institute of Political Studies, Said the Strauss-Kahn box Dominated conversation Saturday morning at the hairdresser&&9;s shop. "The story IS a trigger for women to talk more about What They&&9;ve Been experiencing in the workplace," she said. "French society is changing to Some Extent, intended only gradually."
There has-been criticism of Some French feminists, Especially from men of Mr. Strauss-Kahn&&9;s generation. They "are allowing Themselves particularly ridiculous to say Things, Young Men goal tends to be different," Ms. Le Gloannec said."Salacious comments are now past, and people are past thesis, too, Even If They Do not Know It."
Still, She Said She Would vote for Mr. Strauss-Kahn if She Could, Describing HIM as the best of the possible candidates for France. "He May Have to Learn to Be more cautious," she said. "This is family history problem, with His Wife and His Daughter."
Geneviève Fraisse, forming a member of the European Parliament and Well-Known philosopher and historian of the sexes, Expressed cautious hope. "This IS Debate with us to stay," she said. "It Might change a little the after the latest news. It Will Be a heated debate. Goal year inroad has-been made. "
Maia de la Baume and Romain Parlier Contributed reporting.
Frenchwomen Weigh Impact and Fallout of Strauss-Kahn Case