10/22/2005: "Our Thought For The Weekend"

State Repeals "Slander of Woman" law

It was not so long ago that women carried a special status in our society, a status that both restricted and protected women in ways distinct from men, but with the advent of the women's liberation from such status, many traditions (such as standing when a woman inters a room) and laws have fallen away that supported both the good and the bad of such traditions and laws. The State legislature, always on guard and on the lookout for the need of speedy action, voted in both houses this year to remove from the books one such status that has for years specifically signaled out women from -drum roll please- "slander".

Both the Senate and the House have now repealed the crime of slander of a woman, by repealing RCW 9.58.110 & 120. The repealed law stated, in part, that it was a crime to "speak of or concerning any female.. not a common prostitute, any false or defamatory words or language which shall injure or impair the reputation…for virtue or chastity or which shall expose her to hatred, contempt or ridicule, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor". It then went on to say that such statements are slander unless the "defamatory is true and fair, and was spoken with good motives and for justifiable ends.

But before anyone gets up in arms about this, they should understand that only the singling out of women was removed. The Libel and Slander chapter still remains, and one can still get into some very expensive trouble by slandering a woman, or a man. It's just that now, in the spirit of equality, both are sort of, well, lumped together.

We just thought you should know, and also remind everyone during an election year that it is still against the law to say really bad things about people. Oh, and one more thing, the bill was sponsored by a woman, Sen. Kohl-Welles and signed into law by Governor Gregoire.