Women in the News
12PM Monday 7th December 2009.
First, this article, headlined “Women caught drink-driving overnight”
…although, as it turns out, it wasn't only women. In fact:
Police pulled over 7524 cars at checkpoints in Manukau and Papakura overnight. In total, 81 drivers would be making court appearances, facing charges of excessive breath alcohol. Thirty-two of those caught were women, Inspector Heather Wells said.
So, a little less than 40% of those caught were women. Perhaps a better headline would have been “More women than usual caught drink-driving, but still fewer than the number of men.” Although we don't even know that it's more than usual, as the only ‘stat’ is the less-than-useful “years ago, it was just men were dumb enough to drink drive, but this appears to be changing.”
Secondly, an unpleasant little dose of blame-the-victim in “Celeb sex victim ‘angry’ at name suppression”:
The girl [the victim of the attack], now 17, said she had been subjected to cruel and untrue stories about her reputation since the court case.
…and:
“Afterwards, the police rang me and said that the musician was offering $200 to go towards a charity,” she said.
“They suggested I should ‘have some compassion’. My dad went berserk about that.”
I just love that. “They suggested I should ‘have some compassion’.” You know, for the guy who shoved his junk in an unwilling 16-year-old girl's face. The dude just needs some love and understanding, people.
Jackson opines 8PM Thursday 10th December 2009
Wow, the police is so serious, overnight?
Great work.