The media, (rightly or wrongly), describes anyone who sexually assaults or sexually abuses children under the age of consent as a paedophile. Ignoring the literal translation - which we all know, relates to pre-pubescent children - I have no issues with this.
One thing I do have an issue with, is the different way in which male and female paedophiles are reported in the media.
If the above story related to a male, rather than a female, you can be sure that the article would be peppered with such words such as pervert, paedophile, monster, vile etc. However, as is usual with the reporting of females who sexually abuse children, the described crime is lessened greatly by the way that the media refuse to describe women who abuse children as paedophiles.
Instead, as per this story, the descriptions include such blatant AVP as having an "eight month sexual relationship", having a "close relationship", and "she and the victim had been sexually active".
Why is it so hard, for the media, and indeed society as a whole, to make the connection between females who sexually abuse and rape children, and paedophilia?
Paedophiles are paedophiles, full stop.
There is not (or there shouldn't be) any distinction in offenders, between ages, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or anything else. Paedophiles are paedophiles. It should not matter a jot whether they are male, female, young, old, black, white, rich, poor, Christian, Muslim or whatever.
By reporting in this way, the media immediately lessens the crime (a "sexual relationship" ... with an eleven year old.... seriously - wtf?) which therefore makes the impact has on the victim seem far less of an ordeal than if the offender had been a male.
It is about time that no matter who commits this vile offence, the prejudice that is made against victims in this way is stopped, and ALL offenders and their vile crimes are described the same, and that is as paedophiles and paedophile crimes. The crime is exactly the same, the impact on victims and their families and friends are exactly the same, so there should be no distinction between them
"Words are powerful. Be careful how you use them because once you have pronounced them, you cannot remove the scar they leave behind." Vashti Quiroz-Vega
And....we're off AGAIN
ReplyDeletedisgusting - and surprise surprise another suspended sentence, even though it involved Level 4s and 5s. Shame this can't be appealed against (in their infinite wisdom, the AGs office won't allow appeals against this crime as it isn't a serious enough one!)
DeletePlease read: lacreusehostsevilcult.blogspot.com for information about the predatory paedophile cult under the leadership of Chris and Clare Godson.
ReplyDelete