Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watcgl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watcgl!dmmartindale From: dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: San Quentin strip searches -- a new twist Message-ID: <1255@watcgl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 13-Feb-85 00:16:37 EST Article-I.D.: watcgl.1255 Posted: Wed Feb 13 00:16:37 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 04:45:16 EST References: <802@druxo.UUCP> Reply-To: dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale) Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 15 Nancy Parsons argues that women feel more fear than men in the situation of strip searches by the opposite sex, and (presumably, though she doesn't say so in so many words) that this justifies different rules being applied depending on the sex of the prisoner. I believe that she feels that women ought to receive better treatment than men in this situation because, in general, there is much more likelihood of the women feeling threatened by the situation. While I think I can see why she feels that this assumed psychological difference between the sexes makes differing treatment in prison "fair", I can't agree that it is right. If both sexes are to be treated equally, then they should be treated equally - on the job, in the home, and in prison. Can anyone explain why this fundamental assumption of equality should be abandoned here?