[From the Files of Linda Fairstein 01] • Why Some Women Lie About Rape

**A legal expert’s investigation of why some women falsely claim rape, and the devastating effects on those who have been wrongfully accused.**

For each criminal category, a small percentage of claims are proven to be unfounded. Unfortunately, cases of rape are no exception. As a district attorney in New York City, Linda Fairstein encountered these false claims more than a few times. This kind of accusation not only results in the unjust punishment of innocent men, but also serves to trivialize the experiences of rape survivors. In *Why Some Women Lie About Rape* ,Fairstein draws upon her decades of experience to shed light on this difficult issue, including the motivations behind a false rape accusation. Originally published in  *Cosmopolitan* , this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.