This was posted on another forum by a friend of mine:


http://www.sheboyganpress.com/articl...7/1973/SHE0201

Quote:

A 17-year-old Sheboygan girl was charged Thursday with misdemeanor sexual assault for allegedly having sex with her 14-year-old boyfriend. [...] She faces a maximum of nine months in jail, if convicted.

Quote:

On Wednesday, Alan J. Jepsen, 17, of 1416 New York Ave., was charged for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl who he claimed told him she was 16. Jepsen is facing a count of felony second-degree sexual assault, which carries a maximum prison term of 25 years.

Quote:

Haasch also said the cases are different because Guthrie's boyfriend is "almost 15," with a birthday in February. Jepsen's girlfriend turns 15 in April.

So, same ages and a difference of 24 years with 3 months of sentnces...


On my friend's opinion:

Quote:

I found this article to be really interesting. It seems that many of the discussions about teen sex and virginity always end up in some variant of how virginity is expected of women but not men, etc. I'm not going to repeat that here. But I'd never stopped to consider the other side of the coin. Boys getting harsher punishment than girls for the same sex crime. It's funny, isn't it? Somehow, the responsibility of initiating sex always falls on the guys, while it is usually thought that girls never initiate those acts, they just have the power to say 'no'. It's really funny how all these things are so deeply ingrained in our subconscious, we don't even notice them.

Any thoughts?

Women or older girls getting slaps on the wrist after having sexual relations with minors is indicative of the fact that "penis" is still socially thought of as the attacker/aggressor. Especially when the age of those involved is even, or the boy is older. The older boy is considered a "rapist", the older girl is considered "stupid" or having "emotional issues", which doesn't carry the same kind of penalties. Like that teacher how was what, 30, who slept with a 14/15 year old boy? If that was a male teacher, he'd be rotting in prison, but free like she is.

But society wants to shake their head at a whore/women and high five a boy for getting a$$, but that girl is still a victim and man is a predator.

I think all parties should face unbiased penalties. But hey, I want a pony too, I won't see either.

Rape and molestation are still the same crime and violation of one's person whether it is commited by a male or female. I couldn't get to the article due to some kind of error on the site. I really would need to have more about these cases and their circumtances to base an opinion on them. We don't have very many facts to go on. And state laws might actually vary based on months in age, but what really lies in question here in my mind....

Is, now I don't believe again there is any difference as to gender of the "attacker" and sentancing, but sometimes adults and parents get involved in these things. There maybe more to it than what information we've been given. The parents may even have had something to do with level of charge they were going to seek based on the relationships they had with those being charged.

There is a double standard. If you are a beautiful woman and knowingly have sexual contact with a minor, you will get a light sentence if not just a fine, but if you are a male and do the same, you get a hefty sentence and are required to register as a sex offender. I think it all stems from the societal misconception that women are demure little dolls that physically can't harm another person.

All of you have pretty much covered my feelings on this re: equality and parental involvement. But God, this is still so frustrating to see.

On equality: This double standard was not what the original generation of feminists had in mind. Equal treatment for men and women was their goal. Why is that so often forgotten? (Probably to serve the agenda of whoever wants to forget it.)

On parental involvement: as it is, parents often throw fits over discovering their children's sexual activity, regardless of the child's age. So you can bet in cases like this the double standard is exploited in order for parents to take out their anger on the boyfriend/"perpretrator".

I wonder if we'll ever reach a stage at which we can have real gender equality while still appreciating what is unique about each gender?