The progressive-era was a social change that provided a little more freedom for woman in New York City. Although, women were still expected to uphold their image of innocence. Meanwhile society continued to be shaped by gender and sexuality. The people of the State of New York against Max Krakauer was a formula of the same elements, which also were the same elements of crime. This particular crime, seduction. The analysis on seduction sheds light on the legal and social history of sexual violence.
How does seduction, gender and sexuality apply to this particular case? The people against Max Krakauer involves nineteen year old Lillian Schlosser and a twenty-one year old dentist Max Krakauer. Krakauer entered Schlosser’s life during a trip to the dentist in August 1903. During that first visit Krakauer disclosed that he desired to court Schlosser. Schlosser refused, knowing that society would frown upon the …show more content…
Initially seduction became a law in the 1840’s, while the act of seduction was occurring to woman it was a law passed for men. The tort of seduction allowed fathers to sue over their daughters lost chastity and their subsequent inability to provide services for the family (Donovan, 66). In the late nineteenth century, American society had dropped its tolerance for premarital sexuality. Immediately labeling a female conducting in such ways a “ruined girl” (Brumberg, 249). Although change began to occur in the beginning of the twentieth century. Women who were coerced into having premarital sex were given the chance to seek revenge by criminalizing betrayal by using it as a tool for prosecution as sexual assaults. According to New York trial transcripts on seduction, there were fifteen seduction cases documented from 1903-1919. Eight out of the fifteen victim’s testimony was documented stating that they were physically assaulted and retrained during the act (Donovan,
How does seduction, gender and sexuality apply to this particular case? The people against Max Krakauer involves nineteen year old Lillian Schlosser and a twenty-one year old dentist Max Krakauer. Krakauer entered Schlosser’s life during a trip to the dentist in August 1903. During that first visit Krakauer disclosed that he desired to court Schlosser. Schlosser refused, knowing that society would frown upon the …show more content…
Initially seduction became a law in the 1840’s, while the act of seduction was occurring to woman it was a law passed for men. The tort of seduction allowed fathers to sue over their daughters lost chastity and their subsequent inability to provide services for the family (Donovan, 66). In the late nineteenth century, American society had dropped its tolerance for premarital sexuality. Immediately labeling a female conducting in such ways a “ruined girl” (Brumberg, 249). Although change began to occur in the beginning of the twentieth century. Women who were coerced into having premarital sex were given the chance to seek revenge by criminalizing betrayal by using it as a tool for prosecution as sexual assaults. According to New York trial transcripts on seduction, there were fifteen seduction cases documented from 1903-1919. Eight out of the fifteen victim’s testimony was documented stating that they were physically assaulted and retrained during the act (Donovan,