Naomi Wolf vs. Jaclyn Friedman: Feminists Debate on the Sexual Allegations Against Julian Assange

Democracy Now! - democracynow.org

As more details emerge about the sex crimes allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, we host a debate between two feminists: Jaclyn Friedman argues the sexual assault allegations shouldn't be dismissed just because they're politically motivated, while Naomi Wolf says by going after Assange, the state is not embracing feminism, it's "pimping" it.

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News & Politics

Tags:

• Naomi
• Wolf
• vs.
• Jaclyn
• Friedman:
• Feminists
• Debate
• on
• the
• Sexual
• Allegations
• Assange

[JohnWoo]

@9:30 Friedman gets bitchy when Naomi Wolf tries to interrupt her. @11:49 Friedman then completely cuts Naomi Wolf off.

[ovendoll]

There's a difference between being a feminist and a bully. Jaclyn Friedman is the latter. She undermines all rape victims and all women through her cowardice and slander.

[ThePerfArts]

wolf is completely in the right and Jaclyn is not informed or thinking straight.

[pseudonamed]

To all the haters who think feminism gives women more rights than men, look at Naomi, one of the most popular feminists thinkers of our time, defend Assange and demand that women take responsibility for their actions. Feminists do NOT just automatically take a woman's side.

[AnonymanForeverlol]

Im sorry you cant just base legal proceedings on what "women in sweden want." It has to be fair and impartial. Rape law shouldnt be about appeasing feminism it should be about convicting criminals.

[mariosumo]

Dear Feminist, Please FUCK OFF

[BringTheNoise1]

MAKE ME A GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH BEFORE I SLAP THE NAGGING OUT OF YOU!

[dimransee]

@dimransee gender+ the media, rape, society, politics, other forms of oppression - gender + homophobia, racism, it's alllll interlinked. it allll needs to change. it'll alllll become clearer then. i know what i'm saying might sound misogynistic, but i feel like society is so anti-woman that women become anti-woman and so they don't trust what they think, themselves.

[dimransee]

@dimransee they have it in their heads now. i always see women apologising for their actions or opinions... it's like, society forces women's self-esteem so low that they'll allow this stuff to happen but they don't want it to happen. i realise that makes it difficult when it comes to sex, but i think it's why change is needed in general.

[dimransee]

i mean i understand the argument that women, if we view them equally, they can ask for what they want, they can consent, etc etc but i also agree with what jaclyn's trying to say. i mean, we live in a society that makes sure lots of women stay unsure of themselves and i think every decision they make especially is governed half by what they want, half by whatever the media is telling them because they internalise that crap, they're told all the time that they're not capable and

[dimransee]

i very much agree with jaclyn. consent has to be given first. you can't just grab for some sex and then put it allllll on the victim to say no, there's other shit going on in their minds i mean that shit's scary as fuck. like i get it, victims say no, they should be encouraged to BUT we should also teach people to get explicit consent before trying anything. i don't even tap people on the shoulder. it's someone else's body, you don't fuck with it w/o permission...

[dimransee]

@Demosthenes0725 she's not talking about consensual 'bdsm' sex in this video. she's talking about nonconsensual sex with restraint/s. and about coercion. and societal attitudes about sex/rape/etc. seriously, the waking up to someone having sex with you, idk that would be fucking intimidating and scary as shit for me. idk how i'd react but either way i sure as hell wouldn't like it and it's rape to do things to someone who's unconcious.