Strauss-Kahn’s disgrace not another case of ‘men will be men’

RE “Disgraced IMF leader seeks redemption” (Page A4, Oct. 14): Are you kidding me? Dominique Strauss-Kahn has his “hidden life as a libertine” “exposed” by a criminal inquiry?

To add to the charm, the New York Times article you ran on Sunday tells of a history of “ ‘libertinage’ . . . dating from a 16th-century religious sect of French libertines.” I’m enthralled. Where can I sign up? Wait — I’m a woman.

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A sexual scandal such as this affecting a female politician would be described in blunter terms, including a few synonyms for “prostitute.” Equivalent descriptors for men are scarce in our language.

Meanwhile, the article reporting on the strategy of Strauss-Kahn’s defense team reinforces an almost sympathetic portrait of a self-described “naïve” man with “a zest for sex parties.” The word “libertine” is used six times.

The reporters do note that powerful men who participated in the orgies did have to pay prostitutes to participate because they couldn’t find enough willing women. There’s a shock.

Instead of objectively reporting on Strauss-Kahn’s defense strategy, the writers appear to have been seduced by it.

Beth Freed

Newton