After reading this very disturbing passage, please answer the following question: **Why do you think some people would not think Mr. Smith asked to be robbed but might think a woman wearing sexy clothes and out late at night asked to be raped? Following is the transсrіpt of the defense attorney’s cross-examination of Mr. Smith. “Mr. Smith, were you held up on the corner of 16th and Locust by Mr. Jones?” “Yes.” “Did you struggle with Mr. Jones?” “No.” “Why not?” “He had a gun to my head and told me he’d kill me if I didn’t give him my wallet.” “So you decided to comply with his demands instead of resisting. Did you at least scream for help?” “No. I was afraid.” “Is it true that, earlier on the evening of the alleged robbery, you gave money to some friends who asked for it?” “Yes.” “Isn’t it true that you often give money to others?” “Yes, I like to help people I care about.” “In fact, don’t you have quite a reputation for generosity—for giving money away? How was Mr. Jones supposed to know you didn’t want to give him money? I mean, you give it away to lots of people, so why shouldn’t Mr. Jones have assumed you would give him some?” “What are you getting at?” “Never mind. When did the robbery take place?” “About 11 p.m.” “11 p.m.? You were out walking alone at 11 p.m. at night? You know it’s dangerous to be out on the streets alone at night. Why were you there at that time of night?” “I just felt like walking home instead of taking a cab.” “Okay. What were you wearing?” “A suit. I’d worked late at the office, gone out with friends, and was walking home.” “A suit. An expensive suit, right?” “Well, yes. It is a very nice suit. What’s your point?” “So, you were walking around a deserted street late at night in an expensive suit that practically advertised you had money. The way you were dressed was really provocative, isn’t that so? In fact, we could think that, being dressed that way and out on the streets alone late at night, you were asking to be robbed.
