Seduction in United States

Seduction Definition

As a Tort. At common law, the act of a man in inducing a woman to have unlawful sexual intercourse with him. The use of seductive arts was not essential. The woman herself had no action for damages except in case of a breach of a marriage promise, the only civil remedy being that of her parent, based on loss of services. 89 111. 543; 49 Mich. 540. By statute in many states, the woman has the right to sue in her own name, but such statutes generally provide that the seduction must be under promise of marriage, or by seductive arts and devices. As a Crime. The crime is statutory, and consists generally in inducing an unmarried female of previous chaste character to submit to sexual intercourse by promise of marriage, or, in some states, by other seductive means. “The exact amount or what kind of seductive art is necessary to establish the offense cannot be defined. Every case must stand on its own peculiar circumstances, together with the condition in life, advantages, age, and intelligence of the parties.” 32 Iowa, 262. The intercourse must be accomplished by artifice and deception, and not by a yielding of the woman from mere lust. 79 Ala. 14. Where a promise of marriage is required, it need not be valid, if it is believed by the woman to be so. 26 N. Y. 203. The woman must be induced by the promise to submit. 108 Ind. 406. “No one can contend with any degree of plausibility that a virtuous female can be seduced without any of those arts, wiles, and blandishments so necessary to win the hearts of the weaker sex. To say that such a one was seduced by simply a blunt oflFer of wedlock in futuro, in exchange for sexual favors in presenti is an announcement that smacks too much of a bargain and barter, and not enough of betrayal. This is hire or salary, not seduction.” 97 Mo. 668.

Seduction in Foreign Legal Encyclopedias

Link	Description
Seduction	Seduction in the World Legal Encyclopedia.
Seduction	Seduction in the European Legal Encyclopedia.
Seduction	Seduction in the Asian Legal Encyclopedia.
Seduction	Seduction in the UK Legal Encyclopedia.
Seduction	Seduction in the Australian Legal Encyclopedia.

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Seduction	Seduction in the Family Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the IP Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
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Seduction	Seduction in the Criminal Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Antritrust Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Bankruptcy Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Constitutional Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Tax Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the and Finance and Banking Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Employment and Labor Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Personal Injury and Tort Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Seduction	Seduction in the Environmental Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.

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Legal Issue for Attorneys

As a Tort. At common law, the act of a man in inducing a woman to have unlawful sexual intercourse with him. The use of seductive arts was not essential. The woman herself had no action for damages except in case of a breach of a marriage promise, the only civil remedy being that of her parent, based on loss of services. 89 111. 543; 49 Mich. 540. By statute in many states, the woman has the right to sue in her own name, but such statutes generally provide that the seduction must be under promise of marriage, or by seductive arts and devices. As a Crime. The crime is statutory, and consists generally in inducing an unmarried female of previous chaste character to submit to sexual intercourse by promise of marriage, or, in some states, by other seductive means. “The exact amount or what kind of seductive art is necessary to establish the offense cannot be defined. Every case must stand on its own peculiar circumstances, together with the condition in life, advantages, age, and intelligence of the parties.” 32 Iowa, 262. The intercourse must be accomplished by artifice and deception, and not by a yielding of the woman from mere lust. 79 Ala. 14. Where a promise of marriage is required, it need not be valid, if it is believed by the woman to be so. 26 N. Y. 203. The woman must be induced by the promise to submit. 108 Ind. 406. “No one can contend with any degree of plausibility that a virtuous female can be seduced without any of those arts, wiles, and blandishments so necessary to win the hearts of the weaker sex. To say that such a one was seduced by simply a blunt oflFer of wedlock in futuro, in exchange for sexual favors in presenti is an announcement that smacks too much of a bargain and barter, and not enough of betrayal. This is hire or salary, not seduction.” 97 Mo. 668.

Notice

This definition of Seduction is based on The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary. This entry needs to be proofread.

Seduction in State Statute Topics

Introduction to Seduction (State statute topic)

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Seduction