Who Draws the Line-Feminist Reflections on Speech and Censorship

Feminist Reflections on Speech and Censorship Ratna Kapur This paper draws a distinction between the legal regulation of sexual speech and of hate Speechtwo very different kinds of speech, with two very different kinds of laws. Hate speech laws address a harm promotion of hatred towards different racial caste and religious groups-with which we should be concerned. In stark contrast, sexual speech laws address a harm with which we should not be concerned. The legal regulation of sexual speech is designed to reinforce traditional and highly conservative sexual moralities. Drawing a distinction between hate speech and sexual speech may help to formulate legal and non-legal strategies in response to the specificities of each.