Can A Woman Be A Pedophile?

[Guest Prosis]

I'm asking the question because it seems as if when a woman consumes child pornography or, as it has happened in Quebec today, when a woman is accused of sexually assaulting children they never ever use the word pedophile. But isn't it the same thing as if a man did it?

 

Today, a 35 years old babysitter was accused of sexually assaulting children under 12 that she was babysitting, inciting them to touch her, touching them and making them take nude pictures of her. She is also accused of making them drink alcohol and smoke pot.

 

When women teachers sleep with 12 years old boys like we see quite often, the word pedophile is never used either.

 

What the hell? ;)

[supercanuk]

It is the exact same thing:

The term pedophile is also used colloquially to denote an adult who is sexually attracted to adolescents or youths below the local age of consent,[2] as well as those accused or convicted of child sexual abuse or child pornography related offences.

 

I guess for one reason or another the mass media changes the use of the term for women (i.e. sexual abuse) and for men (pedophile) ... not sure why though... never really thought about it before.

[Guest Prosis]

Yeah I knew that, technically, it was the same thing, but I wondered why they would change it, as if it was taboo or something

[RicardoObviouso]

its easier and ethically sound to accuse/charge someone of sexual assault than it is to call them a pedophile.

 

pedophile is a title used to identify someone who is sexually attracted to children. you can't be charged and convicted of being a pedophile, only the act carried out by being one. i suppose the media could have used the term, but they wouldn't want to ruin the stereotypical image of that greasball creepy man, would they?

[Guest Prosis]

Sure but, in french canadian media anyways, when a man sexually assaults someone under 18, he's branded a pedophile.

 

This man who sexually assaulted a 15 years old girl was called a pedophile all over the place.

 

I think the term may be loosely used maybe.

[Crusader]

There's a huge bias when it comes to this sort of thing. For example, when a female elementary school teacher sleeps with a student she's a cougar but when a male elementary school teacher does it then he's a pedophile.

 

I think it more of a societal thing, if you remember the jokes they had on the late night shows when that happened were all like "I wish she was my teacher in 7th grade."

 

While I think that gender doesn't matter when there's a crime, guys do seem to get the heavier sentences and negative press.

 

Hell, think about this: a Dad takes his daughter to the park or they go out to have a meal together. What do most people instantly think?

 

A) He's a pedophile or, if they're having a meal together, is that his date?

B) Does she need help? Should I call the cops or something?

C) That's his daughter and they're spending some time together.

D) Where's his wife? Single dad?

 

When you see a woman take a young girl to the park then we usually assume she's her mother or maybe a babysitter.

 

If men and women are supposed to be equal then they should both be treated the same and suffer the same consequences if they've commited a crime.

 

I think we're bias because we naturally assume that women are good caretakers and or are safe. When we find out that a specific woman isn't then we just think she's sick and needs taking care of, but if it's a guy we should lock him up and throw away the key.

 

Honestly, I'd have to say I'm bias and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

 

What are the statistics on this sort of thing anyway?

[Sparq]

I'm more likely to get stabbed in the base of the skull by a man, but I'd prefer if it was a woman. I guess the real question is "can the media be consistent and objective?" ...and of course the answer is no.

Edited December 6, 2007 by Sparq

[supercanuk]

In fact, nobody can be consistent and objective. Although at least the responsible among us state upfront our biases.

[Prometheon]

I had a sexual offender expert give a lecture specifically on pedophilia and other paraphilias, and he asked us this exact question. Most people said "of course!" but he responded with "I've NEVER seen one."

 

There is a big distinction between a pedophile and a child molester that I think is confusing a lot of you.

 

Pedophiles PREFER children. There are exclusive pedophiles, who only are attracted to kids, there are married pedophiles, etc.

 

Child molesters are usually opportunistic. They don't conform to societal norms, don't give a shit about the law, etc. They want sex, and they see a kid. Why not? It's not that they wouldn't rape someone else, it's that the kid is easier, available, etc.

 

Edit: To clarify, he wasn't saying that female pedophiles don't exist, only that he's never seen one (in like 20 years of specialized work). They would be EXTREMELY rare.

Edited December 6, 2007 by Prometheon

[Guest Prosis]

Yeah but Owen, as I've said before WE'RE not confused by those terms but rather the media is.

 

Because when a man molests a child he is automatically branded a pedophile but not a woman. But you're right they're two completely different things. That was a bit the point of this post.

 

It looks "better" media wise to claim someone as a pedophile I guess. But there's a huge inequity between women and men in that sense.

[Bizud]

Sure but, in french canadian media anyways, when a man sexually assaults someone under 18, he's branded a pedophile.

 

This man who sexually assaulted a 15 years old girl was called a pedophile all over the place.

 

I think the term may be loosely used maybe.

If this is true then the media is incorrect. 15 year olds are fully sexually mature, and the age of consent is 14. If the term pedophile is to have any meaning it should be reserved for those who want sex with pre-pubescent individuals.

[Computer]

Haha ads by google,

 

"Kids smaller than 4'9""

"Child Safety Products"

"Child Tracking Systems"

[Ravenous megin-sane]

If the term pedophile is to have any meaning it should be reserved for those who want sex with pre-pubescent individuals.

regardless, he'd be a rapist 'cause i doubt the KID would be into it

[Guest Prosis]

See now, the news are calling her a "Perverted Babysitter"

 

http://lcn.canoe.ca/cgi-bin/player/video.c...05_desbiens.wmv

 

Although she is 35 and the boys and girls she abused were between 8 and 14 years old. She still not called a pedophile.

[Bizud]

regardless, he'd be a rapist 'cause i doubt the KID would be into it

He's a rapist cause it was sexual assault. Of course the victim wasn't "into it." The age shouldn't enter into it though.

[RicardoObviouso]

regardless, he'd be a rapist 'cause i doubt the KID would be into it

its funny how your doubt is strong enough to incriminate someone.

[Ravenous megin-sane]

yep, i'm the only person who thought a 15 yr old wouldn't be into having sex with someone so much older. and my opinion along will put them in jail for the rest of their life.

 

hilarious.

[Guest Prosis]

Well I'm not saying that a 15 years old would be in favour of sleeping with someone much older though

 

Actually, I think that's a little off topic (no offense ;))

 

The only question I'm asking really is why isn't that woman branded a pedophile after sexually molesting actual kids whilst a man who molests a 15 years old teenager is branded a pedophile.

 

I'm in no way condoning his actions. As Meg said, he would still be a rapist which isn't better.

 

I'm only questioning the use of the term pedophile.

[Hyphnip]

There's a huge bias when it comes to this sort of thing. For example, when a female elementary school teacher sleeps with a student she's a cougar

What kind of elementary school did you go to?!

Cougar usually means an older woman (usually in her early 40s) going for a younger man (usually between 18 and 30) I don't think the term cougar would apply if he was an elementary school student.

[RicardoObviouso]

yep, i'm the only person who thought a 15 yr old wouldn't be into having sex with someone so much older. and my opinion along will put them in jail for the rest of their life.

 

hilarious.

1. you clearly stated that the reason why he would be a rapist is because of your doubt.

2. very rarely does a child molester/rapists go to jail for the rest of their life.

 

done here.

[Ravenous megin-sane]

my point, which i don't know if you misunderstood or you're just an asshole, was that to me it's pretty irrelevant what they're labeled as 'cause it's rape regardless.

[Guest Prosis]

Yeah I completely agree with Meg on that one.

 

My problem with these labels really is that, the word pedophile is much stronger than perverted when the crime is exactly the same...

[RicardoObviouso]

you can agree all you want, but wether or not the kid was into it is irrelevant.

 

i exploited the post because a rapist isnt tried based on wether the child liked it/asked for it/consented but because the ACT is against the law.

 

dumbing it down into a common equivalent reality would be like asking your buddy to break into your house and steal your stereo. your buddy is still committing a crime and in the end, its the victim's word against the assailant's.

 

you hear about rape victims all the time who, years later admit that they liked what they felt, or they develop a kink from it. this doesnt make the act any less punishable.

 

ok, NOW i'm done.

(unless you say something good)

[Ravenous megin-sane]

they like it 'cause it's sex. it's physiologically scarring 'cause you don't want to like it, but you do. a lot of rapist were raped at a younger age, it makes sense.

 

i wasn't saying that it mattered if the kid was into it, and i don't know where you got that idea from. rape is rape. that's what it comes down to

[RicardoObviouso]

well, in all fairness you said he's a rapist because you doubt the kid was into it.

 

 

so i took it and ran with it, bring me back in shackles.