To not find the Bethany grooming storyline realistic?

[Soyamilkisniceintea]

I guess because she has a concerned family worried about her?

I can't help but think a girl who was the victim of grooming would be more likely to be very isolated.

Yes, yes, I am being deeply insulting and offensive, of course.

It's a discussion topic. If you are offended by what we are discussing, hide the thread. I do it all the time

Started beginning of 2017 didn't it?

I would argue that Bethany does have numerous vulnerabilities

Bethany met Nathan in early December.

Yes, she does but I don't know, it just doesn't ring true to me. Maybe that is because of course it is a soap. Must remember this! But I watched it expecting to be blown away and I was more

I'm not offended. I'm discussing the topic.

You said you find the storyline unrealistic because she has a concerned family worried about her.

I'm pointing out that groomed children can often have a concerned and supportive family. I'm pointing out that it can't be nice as a parent of a groomed child to hear your lazy assumptions that groomed children have something wrong with their family background.

Soya, have you read Things' posts? She works in that field and has said that the depiction is realistic. I'm not saying that it has to ring true for you, because clearly it doesn't, but that, in itself, doesn't make it unrealistic.

The whole thing is so sad - I've no idea if it's realistic or not, but it's scary the shit that goes on.

As for concerned parents-i know Sarah is concerned but hardly pulling all the stops out! My parents would have gone totally mental if this was me at 16 and probably have got the police involved. Not saying that would have been the correct way to handle it but when Bethany announced she was moving in with him Sarah could have done a bit more. I do think it's realistic though, as Bethany has had a lot of troubles recently and was in a very vulnerable state when she met Nathan.

What else can Sarah do? She can call the police. Bethany will just leave again.

I think from Sarah POV if she appears supportive Bethany will go to her if/when she has relationship problems.

To continue with the Corrie theme, for instance, I'd find it more realistic if it was Faye.

Yes: in the sense that she is textbook broken home (eg early teenage pregnancy), blended family and visually still looks like a little girl. But that would be a convenient stereotype.

No: because Bethany like many 16 year olds looks much older than her age; she is also bright, aware of her mother's mistakes, outwardly appears self-assured and relatively sophisticated so the index of suspicion amongst nearest and dearest is immediately lowered. Its the young person's self-doubt / disbelief in this situation rather than obvious physical fear that makes it harder to detect.

I think that the scriptwriters were wise to pick this character.

Yeah true enough :) and I wasn't disputing Things posts, just trying to explain why something about it didn't ring true to me. It didn't mean I was doubting anybody, of course! I suppose to me it's gone VERY fast from a sexual relationship to one that is pimped out but my experience was more nuanced, so not comparable really.

I think Bethany was a good choice for this story line. She doesn't fit the typical stereotype and that's a good thing imo. It's showing that there is no stereotype, this sort of thing can literally happen to anyone from any background. It's raising awareness.

Sorry if it's already been explained but what does Nathan get out of this? He has a girlfriend (I think) and there's no money exchanged that's been shown, so why?

What else can Sarah do? She can call the police. Bethany will just leave again.

I really don't like this attitude. The parent is supposed to be the responsible one, and in control of the situation. I'm not advocating locking her in her bedroom but good previous parenting might have given Bethany some values.

I would personally be utterly devasated to think a teenage DD would be having sex, let alone encouraging her to get contraception! Maybe that's not realistic in this world but on the list of life priorities, sex comes a very long way down.

That's precisely why they're doing it OP.

To educate people who believe myths about grooming and sexual abuse.

It's not myths that I'm talking about, though :)

I didn't really mean to talk about me as I wasn't groomed. But I met an older man at 16. And I did get talked into doing stuff I wasn't happy about and some other stuff happened and anyway - I understand how that happened to me, but it wouldn't have happened with interested/involved parents. That's all.

So I watched this storyline expecting it to be hard to watch for me and it wasn't!

I've worked a lot with Emma Jackson, who previously advised Easties on the Whitney storyline.

She was a 'good' kid from a 'good' family. She's also the person/victim/survivor you see most quoted in the BBC/newspaper stories relating to Rotherham.

Have a read www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rotherham-child-abuse-victim-i-9106205

It is a myth that children with involved, loving parents don't get groomed.

So you are talking about myths aren't you?

Unless there's something else you don't find convincing?

X post. It IS a myth that only kids with disinterested families get groomed.

That you aren't 'really' consenting at 16?

Sorry OP. Wasn't ignoring you I was in the bath.

In answer to your question then yes I suppose it does, I think this is why the law have redefined the definition of child as under 18. Probably to take away this issue of consent. I know that's why statutory rape was brought in, because a person 13 or under couldn't possibly, in the eyes of the law, have the the capacity to consent to what they're doing.

I dont know what it means if a person who is 16 consents, like I said I'm rusty but I assume the law would and does look at each case differently. I may be talking complete bollocks though and I'm happy to be corrected.

I understand what you mean OP, that Bethany wouldn't be your obvious choice, but I think that's why it has raised more of a profile, completely because we didnt see it coming.

Bethany did/does have values she's been left vulnerable by a series of things outside of her or her mother's control and she feels Nathan is rebuilding her.

The more Sarah fights Bethany the further away she will push her. That's been proven by Bethany finding out Sarah doesn't like him and getting back with him.

My parents would have gone totally mental if this was me at 16 and probably have got the police involved

It doesn't help. Like I said I know my situation was different, I had my whole family looking for me that night and my Mum went completely mental at me. It didn't help me and it won't help Bethany.

With regards to the Police, I'm not sure what they'd be able to do. You can join the army when you're 16. You're deemed capable enough. Can you imagine how many call the Police must get a day? "my 16yo had moved in with her boyfriend and I dont trust him and want her back". I can't remember if it was said on here or elsewhere but unless her life is at immediate risk there's not much the police can do. Sarah's doing the right thing, forcing her to stop seeing him would drive her further into his arms.

think from Sarah POV if she appears supportive Bethany will go to her if/when she has relationship problems.

That's exactly it.

Thanks pixies :)