Ayanna Nahmias, Editor-in-Chief
Original post date: 21 May 2011Last Modified: 20:44 PM EDT, 26 March 2012
Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been charged in France with “aggravated pimping” for his alleged participation in a prostitution ring.
PARIS, France - When the media reported on the attempted rape by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former managing director of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) it seemed strange that they referred to the victim as a chambermaid.
The assignation of this descriptor to the rape victim in the 21st century was incongruous. A fact that must have been noticed as the media in subsequent coverage began to refer to her as a cleaning women. In this country and in particular within the hospitality industry cleaning women are invisible.
Cleaning is an honorable job and many hard-working individuals have raised their children by virtue of working in this industry; and thus afforded them the opportunity to move into the professional arena. As with previous groups, the first generation often provided the platform upon which subsequent generations built.
Most people however, have utterly no regard and in some cases disdain for these industrious individuals. Because of their disdain they rarely grant these workers consideration nor acknowledgement as fellow human being. Strauss-Kahn displayed a disregard for this Muslim woman's humanity as he sought to use her for his base desires.
When I heard about the 'chambermaid' from Guinea who despite the shame this accusation could cause her, displayed uncommon courage in reporting the attempted rape, I was proud of her. It took a lot for a woman of "such low station" to resist and then report this attempted rape by such a 'powerful' man. Because of her courage the authorities were able to apprehend Strauss-Kahn as he tried to flee the country.
The fact that this would be rapist had the audacity to attack a woman is unconscionable but it is even more shameful that he would dishonor this Muslim woman by attempting to touch her at all. Orthodox Muslim, Jewish and Christian women are prohibited from touching or being touched by a man other than her husband. Such an act would be considered totally inappropriate and one against which they would vigilantly guard.
Strauss-Kahn, was a likely candidate for the presidency of France and thus befitted the station of an aristocrat. He has since resigned his position at the IMF and in the days following his high-profile arrest this baronial figure was released on a $1 million dollar bond and sentenced to house arrest.
Without a doubt this is yet another example of one rule of justice for the rich and another for the poor. The reason that I referred to Strauss-Kahn as a baron is because of his imperious nature and the air of entitlement that he projects. A baron is one name for a nobleman of the middle ages. In the middles ages the legal system that existed was feudalism. Within this system the Upper Class of which barons were a part, ruled their fiefdoms with tyranny and injustice.
These fiefdoms contained large swaths of land which were farmed by the lower classes who were referred to as peasants or serfs. Either free, slaves or indentured servants, their lives were one of hardship, misery and fear. The feudal lords had absolute dominion over every aspect of their lives. In fact, a lord could rape any peasant woman without fear of reprisal and often their husbands were powerless to stop the defilement.
The reason that I chose to refer to the victim as a charwoman is because it is term as equally incongruous to our century as is chambermaid. The definition of a charwoman is, "quite literally, a woman who does ‘chores’. Already by the 15th century it had connotations of menial or household jobs: ‘making the beds and such other chares’." (Source: Word-Origins)
My friend who is from Trinidad and Tobago told me a saying from her country which I believe is totally apropos here - "every hog has it Saturday." It means that each time the butcher goes to get a hog for slaughter the other pigs squeal (it seems with delight) that it is not them. But their turn is coming and some Saturday they will adorn a table as the main course of a meal; and so it is with Dominique Strauss-Kahn. His Saturday has come.
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