Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Varying global reactions to Strauss-Kahn case

We don't know what actually happened in that New York hotel room, and it would not be wise to speculate.

But Dominique Strauss-Kahn's legal difficulties do give us an insight into the wildly varying standards of sexual probity different societies tolerate from their leaders.

Take a look at this article in the London's Independent newspaper by John Lichfield.

Lichfield says that in French media circles, it was common currency that Strauss-Kahn could not be safely left alone with a young woman.

So maybe the the famous Gallic tolerance of sexual indiscretions has gone too far; creating a culture where journalists and politicians turn a blind eye not only to infidelities, but also to harassment and even assault.
 
Things are very different in Britain where no high profile figure could expect the media to ignore a reputa