Last week, a couple of really interesting discussions arose on this blog concerning determining consent and preventing rape. I’m going to address some of the lingering issues raised in those threads later today. But right now, it’s 9 a.m. on Monday morning, I’m not terribly coherent, amd I’d rather review the implications of Garfield lunchboxes and noxious aftershave on a young attorney’s career prospects. So let’s kick off this edition of Sexist Comments of the Week with a multiple choice:

(a) stilettos
(b) pantyhose
(c) cleavage
(d) eyeliner

According to one lawyer, two will ruin a female attoyney’s career, while two will send her on the partner track. Are career women held to a higher standard of dress than are men? Is business attire absurd all around? Or is the corporate uniform a valuable tool to help boys and girls get ahead? Reader theories—and the answers to your quiz—are after the jump:

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Yesterday, Feminist Law Professors drew my attention to the Miami Daily Business Review’s “Rodent” column, a weekly anonymous rant written by various members of the legal community. The latest missive, “Lady Lawyers Should Dress the Part,” warns female attorneys that they may be sabotaging their careers with overly sexy business attire. Actually, I think it’s more likely that the conveniently anonymous Rodent, who spouts off platitudes like “women who dress like Barbie dolls get treated like Barbie dolls,” is the force that’s keeping women down in the workplace.

Read More “Dressing “Too Sexy”: Career Suicide Or Sexist Excuse?” »

Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. This time on journalism’s way-back machine: an 1870’s defense attorney argues that a man can’t be held responsible for killing his estranged wife’s lover—because, let’s be honest, she was kind of a ho.

This Week In Sexist History:

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Fourteen hours ago, Reddit user “WronglyAccused” posted the following query to AskReddit:

WronglyAccused, though practiced in the art of subtlety, proved less versed in legalese. “The fiancee of one of my friends is accusing me of rape,” he wrote. “I have no idea what my legal options are and his father is a high-powered NY attorney. What am I supposed to do in the situation?”

Reddit users responded sensibly, for once. The lead response, from youareretardedguy: “You don’t need the advice of reddit, you need a lawyer you dumb motherfucker. Jesus Christ.”

Perhaps Reddit was the best place to turn after all?

Sure, the hallway of domestic violence courtrooms at D.C. Superior Court sounds like a great place to pick up women. They’re bored. They’re probably on the rebound. And their ex-boyfriend is court-ordered to stay far, far away from your sweet moves. But somehow, the men I’ve witnessed hitting on chicks in Superior have not had much luck leering and hollering inside the courthouse.

Read More “Pick-Up Lines Not to Use In Court” »