The C is for Crank
Double Standard on Teacher-Student Sex
Q: What's the difference between these two stories (both from the Seattle PI)?
April 4: Teacher accused of sex with student
April 1: Former Bellevue middle school teacher accused of rape
A: The first story is about a female teacher accused of having sex with a 17-year-old boy; the second is about a male teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl.
[pullquote]Both stories, of course, are about adults accused of raping children;[/pullquote]
Both stories, of course, are about adults accused of raping children; but because we're so conditioned to believe that boys are supposed to pursue sex with older women, only the former situation is regarded as rape. The double standard here---girls who have sex with older men are victims, but boys who have sex with adult women are "lucky"*---hurts women and men alike.
* See: Latourneau, Mary Kay.
April 4: Teacher accused of sex with student
April 1: Former Bellevue middle school teacher accused of rape
A: The first story is about a female teacher accused of having sex with a 17-year-old boy; the second is about a male teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl.
[pullquote]Both stories, of course, are about adults accused of raping children;[/pullquote]
Both stories, of course, are about adults accused of raping children; but because we're so conditioned to believe that boys are supposed to pursue sex with older women, only the former situation is regarded as rape. The double standard here---girls who have sex with older men are victims, but boys who have sex with adult women are "lucky"*---hurts women and men alike.
* See: Latourneau, Mary Kay.
