Books like The first stone by Helen Garner

In "The First Stone," Australian journalist Helen Garner examines the police charges brought against the Master of Ormond College by two female students after an alleged fondling incident at a school function. Her inquiry addresses why the students chose law enforcement over the college’s arbitration procedures and why the Master was dismissed despite being cleared of the accusations. Garner’s reporting sparked controversy in Australia and prompted her to reassess her feminist views, examining the blurred line between "sexual harassment" and "violence against women." She argues that contemporary feminism can sometimes act as a political ideology that ignores complex facts, urging a more nuanced, responsible approach that balances compassion, accountability, and individual self‑expression within gender relations.

First publish date: 1995