5 Sexist Laws That Still Exist in the United States
Though the United States has taken great strides towards gender equality, there are a number of sexist laws still present today.
3. Banning Men From Seducing Unmarried Women
The next law also affects the state of Michigan. But for a change in pace, it has the opportunity to unfairly punish men, rather than women. Michigan Penal Code 750.532 reads as follows:
Punishment—Any man who shall seduce and debauch any unmarried woman shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not more than 5 years or by fine of not more than 2,500 dollars; but no prosecution shall be commenced under this section after 1 year from the time of committing the offense.
On the contrary, there is nothing in Michigan law that prohibits a woman from “debauching” an unmarried man. It is unclear to what extent this law is upheld, though one can reasonably infer that it is seldom, if ever. After all, the seduction of unmarried people is what creates initial bonds that eventually lead to relationships and marriages.
