tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166904158944412597.post5353093807160832700..comments2023-08-26T11:28:11.346+01:00Comments on Kill the Bill Uganda: Eight Year Old Girls SuspendedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166904158944412597.post-51098956366570827702013-04-23T12:19:17.672+01:002013-04-23T12:19:17.672+01:00That's a really good article, though I questio...That's a really good article, though I question starting it from the point of view that the events actually took place. Children can be vicious, and adults even more so. It could just be a way of getting rid of pupils that other children, parents, or even the head teacher, don't like.<br /><br />Still, as the article says, it's a natural part of growing up. Countless 'first encounters' happened at school, both single sex and mixed. You can hardly call an eight year old a 'lesbian' in an all girls' school. It's not like they have many other options ;)<br /><br />Labelling anyone at that age anything, from gay to straight to stupid or even talented, is far too early.<br /><br />The sad thing is that imposing shame at that age over something so primal can damage self-identity for a lifetime. Reinstating them in that school when their peers have been taught to ridicule and bully them for what's happened is probably not going to help much.<br /><br />Also, we need to be a little careful of suggesting that children's sexual urges and explorations are the same as an adult's. Both their physicality and mental understanding on this subject are worlds different. That's why it's important to have the age of consent and to have good sex education. Adults shouldn't be encouraged to think of kids as sexually mature, either.<br /><br />There is an interesting schism here. Red Pepper seemed to take quite a light approach to reporting this one. I wonder whether they would have been so lenient had the pupils been young boys? There is often a sense that girls, and even adult lesbians, are less harmful or sinful than gay men. Possibly because straight men often feel aroused by the topic, whereas they don't tend to tune in to watch gay male porn.<br /><br />That's not to downplay the fact that lesbian women also suffer abuse and attacks. Just an interesting social observation.<br /><br />Also, I'd question the need for the word 'normal'. Are asexual adults abnormal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com