THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENTS BY TEACHERS IN POSITION OF POWER AND TRUST

 THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENTS BY TEACHERS IN

     POSITION OF POWER/TRUST

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WHAT THE RESEARCH TELLS US

    When young children are sexually assaulted, the issue of

responsibility is generally very clear cut; as the younger victim

is not in an equal position of power. 

   In the case of a student/teacher relationship, if the victim is

older, the victim may be seen as having more control and the

relationship, though inappropriate, is NOT seen as abusive. 

Research suggests that adolescent appear uncertain as to

whether a social relationship with a teacher was abuse at all.

Those outside, looking in, may attribute patterns of blame

upon the victim. Inferring that the victim didn't do everything

they could do to avoid "uncomfortable situations." For example,

while many consider sexual contact with a minor to be 

completely out of bounds and unsolicited, others consider those

that are on the "older end of the spectrum", that these older

victims are capable of consent/know what they are doing.

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THE DOUBLE STANDARD OF MALE VICTIMS VS. FEMALE VICTIMS

      Of particular interest in research, was the double standard

that exists in perceptions of student/teacher relationships.

Often, sentences, handed down to female offenders who engage

in sex behaviors tend to be much more lenient in prison

sentences given and served.

     Differential sentences for male/female offenders differ greatly

and consistently. Statistics show that females who committed

sex crimes against minor males, were not seen to have

committed the same crime, but reversing gender roles. There

is a societal inference that males can somehow handle the

trauma of abuse better; or the stereotype, that it's a high

five-ing, peer worshipping accomplishment in being a victim.

However, both male and female survivors of female

perpetrators of child sexual abuse have been found to suffer

adverse consequences. Ie, depression, anger, low self-esteem,

difficulty trusting others, suicide attempts, extreme fear,

and self-harm. Male survivors have further been found to engage

in externalizing behavior as in bullying/substance abuse;

and expressed intense anger/rage toward former offender/abuser.

    The belief that women are motherly, nurturing caring,

whereas men are viewed as more aggressive, this may effect

perception of females who perpetrate this kind of abuse.

Sometimes the belief of how females should behave children

conflicts with ACTUAL demonstrated behavior of offenders,

there can, with it, come cognitive dissonance. 

    Perception of sexual assault are also strongly influenced by

media who reinforces gender roles and reinforce stereotypes.

Females are most frequently seen as victims of sexual assault

while males are more often seen as perpetrators.  Male may

actually internalize more than females. Males aren't often

seen to have experienced "abuse" regardless of age.Many male

victims DO NOT REPORT, or are less likely than their female 

counterpart, this kind of abuse very often. Some men/boys

see reporting as an affront to their ego, and sometimes they

feel they will not be believed.

   Women reported stronger beliefs, attitudes, and emotional

repression to child sex abuse than to male victims. This,

again, unconsciously, influences the way we treat the gender

of the victim regardless of age.