Document Type
Working Paper
Publication Date
2006
Center/Program
Center for Gender & Sexuality Law
Abstract
... Objections to the reasonable woman standard [for sexual harassment] combine doctrinal concerns with practical ones. The doctrinal question is something like, Whatever happened to gender neutrality? How are men supposed to know what conduct strikes their victims as intimidating, hostile, or offensive? After all, women are so sensitive - take Anita Hill. Why, as men often ask, can't women be more reasonable? ... The answer is that at least in determining what behavior is sexually harassing, women are not like men. As many feminists have explained, women commonly experience as fearful what men find fun. ...
Recommended Citation
Carol Sanger,
The Reasonable Woman and the Ordinary Man,
65
S. Cal. L. Rev.
1411
(2006).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scholarship/1447
Included in
Criminal Law Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Labor and Employment Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons