Why do women "stand by their man"?

Illegal, intentional sex with a minor. Guardian enough? I'm sure that will be very reassuring for her.

To be a paedophile, his victim would have to be a pre-pubescent child. Can we please not go all Daily Mail with this discussion?

I think most of us are lucky enough that we aren't forced into such an invidious position. My guess is she will leave him.

But at the moment she is having to deal with multiple traumas. Her husband, the father of her child and presumably the person she has loved, has turned out to be a paedophile sexual predator. I doubt she knows which way is up right now. It must be desperately, desperately sad for her. I hope everyone gives her some slack.

As if was going to say...

If he's capable of doing that to a 15 year old girl he probably did it to his girlfriend.

What is grooming exactly? Working a mental number on someone so when you do bad things to them they will see it as normal.

If h

Perhaps they don't actually care what has happened? I imagine that if you have empathy for the victims then it would be hard to 'stand by your man' but if you truly didn't give a toss, it would be fairly easy.

So not necessarily socialisation etc, just lack of empathy. I know people who wouldn't give a toss in that situation.

She wasn't months away from being 16 itllallbefine. She nearer 14 than 16. Her birthday was in November and they met around New Year I believe. He knew about her birthday, having just turned 15 too. She was a kid imo.

I'm just pleased to see Sunderland sack him rather than do a Sheff Utd and keep him on contract (and paid!) while in prison.

This puzzles me in the extreme. Since he has admitted his guilt then she can't believe him innocent. The whole thing is disturbing because if she were a few months older then this would not even be known about, but i suppose the law has to start somewhere.

The question should be why is it so acceptable for men to be attracted to girls?

Many 15 year olds are similar in appearance to 18 year olds, and many people have relationships with others 10 years plus younger than them. I think this is a little unfair to paint her as basically as kid, she was months away from the age of consent. The problem here is that he knew this. I also dont think anyone thinks it is acceptable, his career is over and he is facing jail.

On a similar note was the hideous article recently on the BBC about "sugar daddies" - a young woman was singing the praises of this scene.

She apparently left court when texts between Johnson and his victims were read out. Maybe that adds weight to the 'trollop' hypothesis? Unless, of course, she left him on the spot as reality hit home.

Mrnosey he admitted his guilt to two charges yesterday. She must be aware of that.
And condemning anyone that stands by people guilty of sex crimes is not patriarchal at all. How bloody right on.

I was pondering this too earlier when I saw it in the news.

Can think of a few reasons why: lacking in self esteem, not wanting to lose a wealthy or comfortable lifestyle, seeing the victim as somehow less valuable etc.

Very sad though, the bar for his behaviour has been set so very low. He must think he's untouchable and can do whatever he pleases without losing his relationship.

Can I just say that I definitely don't place any blame on the girlfriend! I am curious as to the mentality that enables someone to stay in a relationship in these circumstances, when I don't think I would at all.

Good post Kidnapped. I remember when that horrific story about Josef Fritzl came out. I lost track of the amount of columnists and commentators seemingly less aghast at his sickening crimes than by the fact his wife didn't know.

It's just another way to place the blame on a woman. Women are meant to prevent men from doing bad things.

He's pleaded guilty so I doubt she believes it's because he's innocent.

I think it's a mixture of things, the cynical side of me also suspects money/lifestyle could play a part.

I hope you don't mean me by that scallops, it's certainly not my intention

Is it not ok to discuss why women stand by men guilty of this type of crime?

I wasn't referring to this case (where he has pleaded guilty) but in general. Ched Evans didn't admit guilt (I don't think).

"ny innocent do you mean they think he physically didn't do these things or that they aren't wrong? Either way, that's a whole new level of thick."

If he swore to her that he didn't do it, maybe she's trusting him.
I guess it's similar to a parent standing by their (adult) child. You would like to think your child or spouse wouldn't flat out lie to you and swear innocence when not, so might be inclined to believe them.
Especially until proved guilty.

Agreed Kidnapped. That'll be patriarchy for you.

Nice to see the blokes on here giving women a kicking too.

Initial shock, I suppose. Believing what he says. Wanting to maintain the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed. Huge pressure to conform from friends and family. Whenever something bad happens, the family usually rallies around doesn't it? Then a sort of groupthink takes over - "They are out to get us, they have an agenda, it's politically motivated, it's because I'm famous". Anything apart from analyse the facts.

Maybe she even feels that her new position of loyal girlfriend/wife in the spotlight gives her power that is otherwise lacking in the relationship - he needs her now, no way will he leave her now until after the trial. It would look bad on him. He's grateful to her now. Within the relationship, her status has just increased.

And even if the woman does think he is guilty, then she feels that that leaving him now is going to look bad for him in front of a jury "See? Even his own wife/girlfriend doesn't believe him". And, even if he is guilty, she loves him enough to try to spare him jail.

The way these things are reported always follows the same script - man does bad thing, innocent woman associated with man gets flak. Bloke rapes a child and gosh, isn't his girlfriend (who had nothing to do with it) awful/stupid/naive?

It was ever thus.

I grew up and went to school with a girl who is now a famous WAG. I knocked around with her until we were about 17/18.

She was intelligent (getting good A-levels from a mediocre school), articulate and likeable, and certainly didn't suffer from low-self esteem. It was also evident from about the age of 16 that her life's main purpose was to associate with (male) professional footballers. Given her obvious positive attributes, it was almost an unfathomable thing, like an obsession or mental disorder.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, except to say that I suspect that the phenomenon (and I think it merits that word, just) is a lot more complicated than stupidity, greed or low self-esteem.

Hard to believe he is innocent when he has admitted guilt on two of the charges, surely?

ny innocent do you mean they think he physically didn't do these things or that they aren't wrong? Either way, that's a whole new level of thick.

Its true, we don't really know the background..