Have I read this 'story' right?? Please tell me I haven't.

[stretch]

here

My first ever thread on Feminism, but I have no words...

Oh bugger, I lost the relevent article in the last paragraph. "They" is referring to the girls. Failing the GIRLS and others like them.

Unless each set of parents thought their daughter was at a sleepover, for example. I know my mother often thought that about me.

Attending court would be hugely traumatic for the parents.

Maybe they're scumbags who don't care, maybe they're not. But they're not the rapists.

"The point I am trying to get to (I know I don't explain myself well) is that this societal thing about girl having older boyfriends leads to dangerous places" I agree - and that was what I was meaning a few posts ago.

Yes and society is failing them - that is why the judge let these men off and didn't seem to recognise that being sexually active at 12 is not normal and should not happen.

But whether or not the girls are competing with one another, they are underage! It is not their responsibility to avoid dangerous places - it is the responsibility of the adult not to rape.

Society is putting these girls in danger because rape is a crime that goes largely unpunished. Stop rapists raping - don't stop girls and women behaving like girls and women.

Yes, they are underage! And as I keep saying, I will not excuse the actions of these men. Castrate them if its allowed. But why is it that society cannot accept some blame for warping the mind of a child into putting themselves into this situation? Yes, the men should have known better, they should be punished. I want to get at the fact that situations like this are occuring and people are righting them off as being OK because girls are just more mature. It's insanity, and people shouldn't be letting anyone get away with this sort of thing.

Boys need to educated as much as girls that this is unacceptable. My Stepfather taught me when I was young how important the AOC is, and I will be teaching my DS. I will also, hopefully, raise my son not to gang rape anyone, as welll.

Most people do not believe that it is acceptable for 12 yo girls to behave in this way. I am quite certain that 99% of people would be horrified at this situation.

As far as I can see the only person who thinks it is normal for 12yo to behave like this is the judge.

I can't get past the fact that the law says that under 13 it is rape, full stop, end of story, as consent cannot be given.

And yet the judge has applied to this case the law for sex with children aged 13 or over.

So this line in the sand (under 13) - which I thought was pretty solid - is actually totally movable.

" Society is putting these girls in danger because rape is a crime that goes largely unpunished. Stop rapists raping - don't stop girls and women behaving like girls and women."

Since when was texting men for sex girls behaving like girls? That is not normal, healthy twelve year old behaviour. Being sexually experienced at 12 is not normal or healthy.

I agree with atomicbrromstick and stweiegriffithsmum, entirely.

'That is not normal, healthy twelve year old behaviour.' because they have been previously abused, which is not their fault either, nor does it any way excuse or lessen the actions of the rapists.

When it comes to children there are no mitigating factors, they rely upon adults to keep them safe. The rapists were adults.

Actually, you're right jointhedotties. These girls weren't behaving like normal girls. They were behaving like vulnerable children who may well have suffered abuse that is at the root of their behaviour. I would hope that these girls were worthy of even more protection and understanding than society gives to children as a group. Again, I am truly shocked that you appear to think otherwise.

I linked the sentencing guidelines for sexual offences earlier. That documents sets out the mitigating/agravating factors which have to be considered for sentencing.

"he said she was sixteen, smelled of alcohol and bought cigarettes in the off-licence"

Excellent, so his defence was he took advantage of a drunk young woman? FFS.

I don't really have anything constructive to add but the whole system is undeniably fucked up.