The Institute (協会)

I definitely think all-boys schools make some sense, but if you have female teachers at the all-boy schools, then you're back to square one with the problem here.

But this probably goes farther than just who goes to school with whom. I think it's just another reminder of how far the "sexual revolution" has brought us - women now feel free to engage in predatory sexual behavior that was once largely confined to men. It's evil whoever does it, but at least once upon a time women didn't do it.

tuscOn, female sexual predation has really taken the high schools by surprise. I've got sad stories. I think more mothers need to show the "rifle collection" to their son's girlfriends than we may realize.

I know of someone who planted a church, and a young woman attending there, sexually molested their little boy. So, pastors need to watch out for their kids too. There's a bad craziness loose on the land today. Ha, about the rifle collection, my dad pulled out his gun when my sister and I went on dates. One night, she went out with a fine young man. Curfew was 11:00 pm, about 10:49 we hear this horrible sound coming down the street. It's the young man and my sister, his car has a flat, but he drives home on it to get her there on time! Good memories!

I support single-sex schools, but to say that they are needed because of female predators is dangerously reactionary.

When I see these stories, I always want to know why? Why are these women "attracted" to teenage boys in this way? Sexual abuse is always about power, so what is happening in women's lives that they feel compelled to exert power over boys (men and subconsiously men) in this way.?

Tam,

Lot's of possibilities as to the "why" women are attracted to teenage boys. But let's remember what makes boys so vulnerable -- the peak of male sexual activity is adolescence (14-18). I'm not blaming the victims in any way but only trying to demonstrate that a little gasoline tossed onto the fires that are already burning will ignite huge blazes.

I'm preaching through Proverbs on Sunday evenings at my church. Lot's of wisdom on this topic for both men and women can be found in Proverbs 5,6 and 7. We would do well to pass on Solomon's warnings to our people.

tusc0n- But how does that address the problem of same-sex molestation?

I think the idea is interesting and it might be a great corrective, but I'm not sure how to address the above question.

Dave, as a female teacher, I can attest to your point. Although 13 is very, very young. Obviously, there is a generation of young women who have not been taught sexual restraint or sexual boundaries. When confronted with a flirtatious, or even abjectly forward, young man, they have no boundaries or restraint to fall back on. I have a feeling there are some emotional wounds present in these women, as well. I've been in situations where I can completely understand a vulnerable, boundary-less woman making seriously wrong choices. I would definitely state that there need to be more male teachers on the high school level, but the solution to these situations is to begin realigning people's moral compass when it comes to sexuality. Boundaries are necessary, and not really very popular in our society; but without them, we will continue to have this situation.

I would also wonder if the prevalence of adolescent men has contributed to this--after all, if adult men act like 13-year-olds, the differences start to get really blurry for certain women.

So is Mary Kay LeTourneau giving classes in boy student seduction or what? It seems like ever since that whole thing with her and that Fulau kid happened, a bunch of woman teachers have been messing with young male students. I hear about a case every few weeks.

jake - I don't think same-sex schools would fix same-sex molestation. The British public schools (for the uninitiated, that means they're private schools) demonstrate this to a "t," but those are usually boarding schools with little adult supervision. Consequently, sodomy and abuse among fellow students is rampant.

Perhaps the least risky solution is to have same-sex non-boarding schools taught by married, heterosexual teachers of the same gender as the students. Stuff will still happen, but there's less risk.

Sad to say, my first response was "well, what about same sex molestation, then?"

And with others, I'd have to suggest that maybe, just maybe, we need to stop letting schools feed the fires of teenage hormones with a pervasively sexual atmosphere. Maybe take a look at the lyrics of the songs they're playing at school dances, and consider a basic dress & conduct code?

Yes, you don't achieve morality by implementing rules, but you can at least stop encouraging the opposite, no?

Dramaturge,

I agree that 13 is very, very young. But let's consider that boys of this age might not be all that innocent either. Given the music of our day, videos, dress codes (or the lack thereof) and pornography that is only a click away it isn't too hard to imagine boys in the 14-18 age range who are all too willing to experiment. Immature-imbalanced-flirtatious young women mixed with boys like I've described is a disaster waiting to happen.

Perhaps the way to deal with this is to enforce the statutory rape laws of our land. Going to prison and bearing the title 'sex offender' for the rest of your life is a pretty strong deterrent.

Dave, you're right on about innocence. I was well on my way to corruption by 13. Heck, I was first exposed to hardcore pornography when I was 9 or 10. My friends and I used to sneak around in one kid's house and read his parents' stash while doing "school projects." Wicked, vile stuff, and I think it's only getting easier.

Women molesting boys is not even in the same category of men molesting girls. Men molest girls ALL the time, way more than women molesting boys.

How many millions of cases of men molesting girls never make it to CNN or blog discussions?

Also, young boys like having sex, not to say its not messed up, but they like it. When a young girl has sex with a man, there is actual physical damage that boys don't have to put up with. Sorry to be Captain Obvious.

Yes, women molesting boys is messed up but hardly a discussion as important as the opposite.

tusc0n raider,

Ditto here. I think that I was 7 when I was first exposed to pornography via kids in the neighborhood.

For those who think that this is a recent phenomena, check out this headline at Fox News:

"Catholic Nun, 79, Pleads No Contest to Sex With Boys 40 Years Ago."

The abuse occurred in Milwaukee with 13-14 year old boys. So much for the notion that the only pedophiles in the RCC are priests.

Totten,

You are correct -- there are probably more cases of men molesting girls. That's why statutory rape laws need to be enforced.

Right now there is a huge legal case against the Kansas City, Kansas abortionist, George Tiller based on this very issue. Turns out that many of the women coming to his clinic for abortions are underage and have been molested/raped by older men. Per Kansas law his clinic must report all such instances but he has failed to do so.

Again, going to prison and bearing the title 'sex offender' for the rest of your life ought to make people think twice. I don't know why local prosecuting attorneys won't enforce these laws.

Dave, I'd have to suggest that a lot of DAs don't prosecute it because of "there but for the grace of God go I." In other words, 20 years back, THEY, or their friends, may have been the ones finding out that their new girlfriend was only 15 and had become pregnant.

Also, if you asked 10 people about the reason for statutory rape laws, I bet one at most would be able to come up with a good answer. We simply don't think about or understand these things like we probably ought to.

Dave, I agree that the 13-year-old of today is too often too exposed to sexuality. I was meaning the very young more from the teacher's perspective. I could see a teacher giving in to a 16-year-old far more than I can get the 13-year-old. But then, I've had 13-year-old students who could pass for 16. And plenty of adults who could mentally pass for 16 themselves. I guess it all depends. All the more reason why the solution to this is to begin emphasizing sexual boundaries again.

"I could see a teacher giving in to a 16-year-old"

In most of these cases recently, it does not appear that the teenage boy was the one 'asking'...

I think you'd be very surprised. When these cases are reported on, no one ever wants to say, "Hey, teenaged boys come on to teachers." The mothers are always saying, "My son was so innocent. He was a complete victim." Blah. Blah. Blah. I've taught high school. Teenaged boys are not innocent and they come on to young, single teachers all the time. Even youngish married teachers. I'm sure there are cases of abject pursuit by a teacher of an uninterested student, but I'm guessing that is not generally the case based on my experience. This is why teachers have to hold the moral ground.

You won't see a case where it "appears" that the boy is the one "asking." It isn't media friendly to portray the case that way.

Everyone's comments here seem to miss the point. The question seems to be whether or not women having sex with young boys is such a bad thing.

Everyone continues to say there is a difference between women having sex with young boys and men having sex with young girls.

To believe that is utterly sexist. What about this is so complicated?

There is no difference. The woman above who says that because older men act like children makes it ok for women to have sex with children is totally wrong.

If that is the case, why can't men have sex with young girls, considering that most women act like immature young girls?

I don't understand the difference.

I apologize for being so blunt in this way but the vast majority of the comments are bs in that they try to explain away the behavior of females by saying it's different than men because of this that and the other. Sexual revolution? Restraint? I've seen those words in comments. Such words and ideas when it comes to predatory behavior are grossly wrong. A predator doesn't use restraint, a predator isn't concerned about right or wrong or revolutions. Male or female, the predator is only concerned about him/herself. Gender doesn't change the reasoning behind why a predator hurts others. The mindset is that they can do what they want to do. Look at her face, the woman shows no shame at all and no worry. Just think of it, she'll not receive the same judgment as if she were a man because of how lightly female sexual predators are taken and because many will try to explain her behavior away. The fact is, it's wrong, it's wrong and it's damaging to the boys who suffer this way.

The truth is, if she were a man we'd be talking not about gender or reasons behind why he did what he did we'd be talking about laws to stop and laws to protect. Separating out a predator by gender gives one gender more culpability while letting the other off easier. We already as a country (US) pretty much cater to our sexual predators, now women predators are not just catered to but are given excuses and explanations. This isn't immature of her, it's wrong and criminal behavior. If the teacher were male such words wouldn't come up.

It doesn't matter if the boy "asked" the teacher for sex. If he asked her for an A on a paper would she give it so readily? No, and she'd be fired for it too with no excuses given.

This isn't about teenage boys, it's about being willing to see the victim as having responsibility in the crime. Shameful to even suggest it. And you teach the very children you blame. What a frightening, frightening thought.

Lastly, after writing all this I fear it will fall on Deaf ears because for many the idea that boys like it and that they participate rather than are victimized seems to be deeply rooted not just in this forum but in society largely. It's sad really, they're children and a child (male or female) should be protected equally.

Austin of Sundrip Journals

Well, the sexist comments here are amazing. I do wonder for those that suggest that women who have sex with boys are not molesters because boys are more mature and can handle the sex.

I point you to abortion laws (don't care if you agree with abortion or not) , they state that a girl child of any age can have an abortion without parental consent or permission. These laws state that girl children have the right to a surgical procedure and are mature enough to make that decision BUT people on here are suggesting that girls of 14, 16 etc aren't old enough to consent. REMEMBER statutory rape laws state specifically that consent doesn't matter, because the kids are too young to consent. BUT, we excuse women who molest (and people rarely use that term when referring to women, they prefer the term, had a relationship) kids. BTW, I will also say this, women who molest kids are treated with kid gloves (pun intended) no matter if their victim is a boy or a girl and men are treated as pedo, molesters not deserving of anything but contempt even if the victims is willing participant regardless of gender of the victim.

SO, I really wonder, does society focus on the gender of the perp more than the gender of the victim.