[lbo-talk] Sex Panic at SUNY

[joanna]

We weren't talking about sexual harrassment, we were talking about 
consensual sex between grownups. There's a real issue as to whether 
consensual sex can occur between "teachers" and "students"...but then 
there's a question as to whether consensual sex can occur between any 
two people related by a power relation. Dworkin's alleged definition of 
intercourse as "rape" hinges on this perception.

Students and teachers at the college level are both adults and can make  
informed decisions about sex. I'm not saying sex between 
teachers/students at the college level is not a problem, I'm just saying 
that the category of "teacher" and "student" only partly define men and 
women, and that there are circumstances in which their humanity and 
sexuality should rightfully trump these other, insitutionally-defined 
categories. I also think it would be wise to wait till class is over.

There are legal definitions of rape and harrassment, and these should 
hold and apply whether you're a teacher, student, fireman, nurse, 
electrician, etc. Outside of that, consensual acts between adults are 
just that.

I completely understand that sexual relations with students is 
considered to be one of the perks of academic employment and are enjoyed 
as such by many. That doesn't mean that sexual relations between 
students and teachers are only about that.

Joanna

Michael Dawson wrote:


>>>From: joanna
>>>      
>>>
>>>>I understand about the power relations. I do. I'm
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>not saying it's not
>>>      
>>>
>>>>an issue. I'm just not sure that it's as cut and
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>dry as you make it
>>>      
>>>
>>>>out to be.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>Agreed.  If you dont meet them at work or school,
>>where are you going to meet them?  There are so few
>>public spaces in the United States.  Of course, then
>>there is match.com....the Internet is about the only
>>public space left.
>>    
>>
>
>Pardon the pun, but tough titty, dude!  I disagree with Joanna.  It's
>actually more cut and dried than Snit put it.  If you sexually harass a
>student, you are just daring the student to sue the living shit out of the
>school for failure to supervise.  It is a job condition, and a good one.
>
>If you want to meet people to nail in academia, wait your turn, or nail your
>co-workers like everybody else.
>
>___________________________________
>http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>
>  
>

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