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Original poster

Are there still any laws that apply to women but not men?

89 replies

CuppaTeaJanice · 10/01/2011 10:11

Or vice versa? Or any offences that carry different penalties depending on the gender of the offender or victim?

The area that immediately springs to mind is being topless in public. Also I expect there were many old laws eg. homosexuality only being illegal for males because Queen Victoria didn't believe females would do such a thing. And women not being allowed to vote, her possessions being 'owned' by her husband etc.

Does anybody know if all the gender inequalities in British law have now been rectified, or are there still a few odd laws left that are not equal?

Smile
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CraigRevelPan · 14/01/2011 00:08

or rather in submarines. Otherwise there could be consequences..

ruddybindippers · 14/01/2011 00:05

Miseltoe - no longer true. Wrens can serve on submarines.

BuzzLightBeer · 13/01/2011 23:56

no they are not caramel!

CraigRevelPan · 13/01/2011 23:45

and vasectomy - yes legally there needs to be evidence of all of the issues thrashed out with your (a) GP

CraigRevelPan · 13/01/2011 23:43

Helena Kennedy talking rubbish!!!! Gosh. That needs a lie down.

heroine is the one less than exact. Women tend t og oto prison earlier in their offending career, for less serious offences, and as there are fewer women's prisons are likely to be much much further away from their families.

caramelwaffle · 13/01/2011 23:29

ivy - I believe it is two weeks (will double check)

iskra · 13/01/2011 11:55

Sorry, yes, that's exactly what I meant. Durh.

Original poster
CuppaTeaJanice · 13/01/2011 09:21

I would have thought that poor health and diet would increase the age of puberty. I've read many times that the hormones required for menstruation kick in when the body reaches approx 7 stone in weight. An ill, malnourished child would weigh a lot less than this.

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ivykaty44 · 13/01/2011 08:43

carmelwaffle - what is the set time and which act of law prevents a pg woman from driving a vehicle?

I know after major surgery you are not able to drive a car due to your insurance company not allowing this - but that effects any person who has had major surgery - from gall bladder removal or c section, but isn't a law forbidden just the insurance don't want the risk

iskra · 12/01/2011 23:02

HelenBa - I think I read somewhere that the age of puberty used to be much the same as it is now, but dropped during the Industrial Revolution (urbanisation leading to poorer health/diet etc). Not sure if that's true nor where I read it though.

HelenBa · 12/01/2011 22:46

Interesting, what I don't get is that the age of consent was so much lower in the past, but at the same time it seems we are often told that our children are going through puberty younger than previous generations - the two seem to be entirely contradictory to me

caramelwaffle · 12/01/2011 22:33

Women are forbidden by Law to drive (a vehicle) - for a set period of time (after having given birth)

SuchProspects · 12/01/2011 18:58

The Infanticide Act only applies to mothers. I think it's still in force, though wouldn't bet on it.

Not really a good example, because it's based on a woman's mental state being affected by her having given birth. Since men can't do that it wouldn't make any difference if the law said "parent" instead of "mother".

I was involved in the criminal justice system about 15 years ago and then it was riddled with sexist stereotypes. Some female suspects were less likely to be followed up for some crimes as people were reluctant believe they had criminal intent (especially when there was also a man involved). Suspects etc. were treated more harshly when they didn't conform to expectations. That's a fairly natural reaction I think, but one a justice system should guard against. Women who got convicted seemed to get harsher sentences from what I saw. That's all anecdotal though.

ivykaty44 · 12/01/2011 15:40

You need the agreement of a doctor for a vasectomy? A gp can refuse -struggling here Grin

slug · 12/01/2011 15:37

CuppaTeaJanice - nice try, I nearly found myself agreeing and then I realised you would only need the consent of one other person, the other twin. Strictly speaking you don't need a doctor's consent, you just have to find one (or a team in this case) who is willing to do the operation.

ivykaty44 · 12/01/2011 15:20

yes I understood that when you first posted, slug

Original poster
CuppaTeaJanice · 12/01/2011 12:52

Vesuvia - that was in response to this comment by slug...

...although it would be an extremely rare situation, I know!! Smile

OP posts:
vesuvia · 12/01/2011 12:48

CuppaTeaJanice wrote - "I've thought of an operation a man could have where he couldn't give singular consent (at least I presume not, but I may be wrong) - a pair of adult male conjoined twins"

That would also apply to female conjoined twins.

Original poster
CuppaTeaJanice · 12/01/2011 12:43

Thanks for the links ivykaty - really interesting. So the age of consent in England in the 16th Century was just 10!!!!! Also the age of consent for boys in Scotland was raised from 14 to 16 -last month!!

Slug I've thought of an operation a man could have where he couldn't give singular consent (at least I presume not, but I may be wrong) - a pair of adult male conjoined twins, where only one twin wants separation, especially if the operation would mean the second twin would be unlikely to survive. I would be very surprised if surgeons would be able to go ahead with any surgery with permission from just one twin.

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slug · 12/01/2011 11:09

I was referring to terminating a pregnancy ivykaty44.

ivykaty44 · 11/01/2011 21:12

scallops yes I understood what she meant, just wondered if it was about not letting the doctor do the operation in case he was at fault not the woman - if you see what I mean putting the onus on the doctor not the patient.

The minimum age for marriage here

I don't know anything about the age of consent being 13 years old, in which country or century? sorry cupoftea but here is a list of the ages in EU and a few histories

Original poster
CuppaTeaJanice · 11/01/2011 20:45

Why was the age of consent 12 for girls but 14 for boys? [confused} And did this mean that if two 13 year olds had sex, only the girl would be punished?

OP posts:
scallopsrgreat · 11/01/2011 19:52

couldn't!

JeaninePattibone · 11/01/2011 19:47

Oh, and the age of consent is currently 13 in Spain!

scallopsrgreat · 11/01/2011 19:47

ivykate - I think the point slug was making was that the woman could sign for the operation herself. It requires a doctor (or 2) to give permission.