The Politics of Rape: Jane Doe Speaks at McGill
The woman known as Jane Doe is a reknowned sexual assault activist, writer and teacher. She is also the litigant who made both feminist and legal history when she sued the Toronto Police Force for negligence and gender discrimination – and won.
During her precedent-setting case, she fought to hold police liable for failing to warn women of the serial rapist operating in their neighbourhood. She also linked this misconduct with wider Charter equality issues of systemic sexism and discrimination within the police force itself.
Throughout her legal battle, Jane Doe challenged myths and stereotypes about women and sexual assault. After leading the neighbourhood postering campaign that led to the rapist's arrest, she fought to frame the trial of her rapist in her own terms.
Jane Doe was the first woman to win the right to sit in on the preliminary hearing in her rapist's trial. Her 11-year civil trial marked the first time the state was held liable for the way it investigates crime. Jane Doe has continued to speak and write about social and legal issues relating to violence against women in the context of equality and within a feminist, anti-racist framework.
Childcare services will be provided.
Co-hosted by the McGill Faculty of Law's Women's Caucus, SACOMSS and the Annie MacDonald Langstaff Workshop Series (Margot E. Halpenny Memorial Lecture).