ginger@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ginger Grover) (07/26/83)
What about the case (I think it was in CA; that would make sense)
where a woman was found innocent of murder (or the charged was
reduced. Sorry, I don't remember all of the specifics.) because
of 'menstrual stress.' Make women world leaders? Okay, but what
if 'that time of the month' rolls around? Do we get nuked because
of 'menstraual stress?'
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Premenstrual tension does not affect all women, and the
severe type in the case described above is not the norm.
PMT can be absolute hell for a very small percentage of
women, and such women certainly would be disinclined to
attempt the stress of political life.
:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
Using PMT as an argument for "temporary insanity" is new
only in a legal sense. It is a universal feminine ploy
and can be used *anytime* because the monthly cycle is
be definition unpredictable. I've seen it used quite
effectively as much as three weeks "early". The idea
is to employ a face-saving withdrawal of the "fall back
and re-group" sort, and the scenario goes like this:
The woman is losing an argument with her husband (lover,
boyfriend, whatever) and retreats from the hostilities
by saying "I'm sorry, I didn't really mean what I said.
I don't know what got into me -I must be about to have
my period .... " According to the secret manual, "these
remarks should be accompanied by a tremulous half-smile
and damp eyes; a few sniffs and a dainty handkerchief
are optional." The properly programmed male will respond
with appropriate concilatory words and gestures, knowing
that the alternative is a flood of tears. What he doesn't
know is that she's really thinking "I meant every word,
you rat! And you haven't won the argument, you've just
postponed it."
Men have a similar ploy, known as "The-excruciating
stress-of-my-executive-job-which-pays-for-all-your
expensive-baubles-got-to-me." Don't you just love
these games people play?
ssc-vax!gingerrtf@ihuxw.UUCP (07/29/83)
ginger, I like the way you think. sparrow