Unequivocal Victims: The Historical Roots of the Mystification of the Female Complainant in Rape Cases

Historically, numbers of women complainants in rape trials have been regarded suspiciously, or prejudiced in that their credibility has been seriously called into question, or undermined, both from within and outside the courtroom. Arguably, public and legal perceptions as to the expected conduct and behaviour of the stereotypical rape victim have been grounded in the belief that genuine women who allege rape should act and portray themselves as unequivocal victims. This suggests that the contemporary construct of the female rape victim and her associated stereotypical image should be considered not solely as a legal derivative but also within a wider cultural context. This article explores the historical influences that shaped the cultural construct operating in the U.K., in particular, the societal and legal attitudes of the mid-Victorians towards women and sexual violence, creating an historical mystification around the construct of the female rape victim and the crime of rape itself. Reference is made to a number of cases reported in The Times newspaper between 1850–1885 which underline the requisite portrayal of the rape complainant as an unequivocal victim. It is argued that the relocation of this historical and socially constructed mythological imaginary within the context of the law and the trial process has disproportionately contributed to the modern scepticism which surrounds the female complainant. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

五四社会思潮与马克思主义主流地位的确立

辛亥革命后建设民国的失败,第一次世界大战的残酷现实,尤其是巴黎和会带来的“公理”迷梦的破灭,导致中国社会对资本主义的普遍怀疑和失望;而中国工人阶级的成长壮大,新文化运动的勃兴,特别是十月革命的一声炮响,又给探索中的中国先进分子带来对社会主义的新的希望和寄托。马克思主义主流地位在五四时期的确立,正是中国先进知识分子追求真理的理性选择。从党的一大建立起马克思主义政党,到二大制定出指导中国改造的民主革命纲领,是马克思主义主流地位确立的重要标志。     

“小康”概念的历史考察及文化阐释

小康"之说在中国历史上源远流长,影响极为广泛.邓小平同志对它的巧妙借用,给这一古老的历史概念注入了新的时代内容,成为对新时期里我们所追求的发展状态与奋斗目标的极富民族特色的形象表述.值得注意的是,古今"小康"概念的内容都不是单一的,它们都蕴涵着丰富的人文关怀内容.了解这种相通性,有助于我们对全面小康目标的全面领会与理解.     

新时期"党建带团建"工作意义探略

"三个代表"重要思想,不仅是新时期进一步加强党的建设、全面建设小康社会、开创中国特色社会主义新局面的伟大纲领,也是新时期加强团的建设、做好团的各项工作的根本指针。我们要以"三个代表"重要思想为指导,坚持把"党建带团建"工作按照"三个代表"的要求去思考、把握、衡量,构建"党建带团建"工作的新格局。     

试论恢复陈独秀的历史地位及其意义

陈独秀作为启蒙思想家、无私无畏的革命家、中国共产党主要创始人与早期领导者以及承载中国传统人文精神与理想人格的典范 ,对先进文化的传播与分析 ,对中国共产党的奠基与创建 ,对中国发展道路的探索与思考 ,作出了无可替代的巨大贡献。恢复陈独秀的历史地位 ,不仅是体现为对他个人的“厚道与公正”的问题 ,更是体现为我们这个民族如何对待思想先驱、革命功臣与文化精英的态度的问题 ,具有重大的现实意义。     

对宪法性质及相关问题的重新思考

本文讨论了宪法的性质、内容和效力阶位等涉及宪法本质特征的一系列问题。认为 ,宪法不是母法 ,而是关于国家政治生活准则的部门法 ,在本质上是一种政治契约 ;有关国家权力的来源与性质、配置与运作、制约与监督等问题是一个国家宪法的核心内容 ,而关于发展经济、教育、科学技术、文化艺术、思想教育、计划生育、环境保护等问题不是宪法应有的内容 ;宪法虽然作为一种政治契约 ,应当是一个国家的根本大法 ,但根据本文提出的“对外承诺对内具有约束力”的原则及其相关规则 ,宪法实际上的效力阶位从制定机关的角度看 ,则取决于其在一个国家整个权力结构体系中的级别 ,因而我国宪法与全国人大制定的基本法律实际上处于同一效力阶位 ,而要使它成为效力最高的法律 ,就有必要进行立宪体制上的创新。     

论“三个代表”重要思想中的历史意识

十六报告的指导思想渗透着一种强烈的唯物主义的历史意识,它既是一种立场,也是一种方法,其本质精神是“面向事物自身”,即实事求是,与时俱进。它有三个基本维度:现实性、规律性和创造性,并以社会历史本位实现三者的统一。基于这种历史意识,十六报告实现了解放思想和实事求是的统一,理论创新与规划未来的统一,立足国情与面向世界的统一。认真体会这种历史意识,对于全面领会和贯彻落实十六报告具有重要意义。历史意识使我们真正走向历史深处。     

事业单位的若干法律问题

事业单位是我国具有独特地位的公共服务组织,是我国法律调整和法学研究的重要对象。事业单位具有行政相对人、准行政主体和民事主体三种法律地位和身份。他对社会公共事务管理的依据有法律、法规授权和行政机关委托;其内容包括但不限于制定规章和规范性文件、行政许可、监督检查、行政处罚等。此外,随着事业单位改革的深入,立法应当完善。     

西方女性主义犯罪学的兴起与发展

西方发达国家女性犯罪学研究的兴起与发展、壮大有其理论渊源,当然也存在诸多问题。西方女性犯罪学随着自身的发展也呈现出理论整合趋势。西方女性犯罪学的研究也为研究我国社会转型时期日趋严重的女性犯罪现象提供可资借鉴的理论成果。     

Peer Social Structure and Risk-Taking Behaviors Among African American Early Adolescents

This study investigated associations between peer status, peer group social influences, and risk-taking behaviors in an urban sample of 647 African American seventh-grade students. The highest rates of problem behaviors were seen in the controversial peer status group, or those youth who were both highly liked and highly disliked by other youth. Findings also revealed contrasting patterns of peer group leadership. The more conventional, positive leadership style predicted lower rates, and the less mainstream, unconventional style predicted higher rates of involvement in problem behaviors. Conventional leaders were most likely to be popular status youth, while unconventional leaders were mostly to be both controversial and popular status youth. Controversial status youth were also more likely to be involved in deviant peer groups. Results highlight the importance of controversial status students as key influence agents during early adolescence. We discuss the implications of these results for preventive interventions to reduce adolescent problem behaviors.