What Most Sex Scandals Have In Common (Hint: It's Not Sex)
source: http://www.good.is/post/what-most-sex-scandals-have-in-common-hint-it-s-not-sex/
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Earlier this week, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan took pains to acknowledge Penn State's scandal, which has echoed the Catholic Church's ongoing problems with sex abuse. At a news conference, Dolan said “we once again bow our heads in shame" and reminded listeners that sexual abuse is a universal problem plaguing most institutions.
Perhaps, Archbishop Dolan. But why?
Sex scandals typically unfold the same way—a media frenzy erupts, alleged victims and perpetrators, as well as their defenders, are dissected under a microscope and demonized accordingly. The abuser is "sick," "a bad apple," a "monster." The accuser is "troubled," a "gold-digger," a "liar." Eventually, screaming headlines give way to memes and SNL skits, and the scandal fades from the press. The opportunity to talk about larger structural problems eludes us.
Then, a few months or weeks later, another "shocking" scandal surfaces, and the cycle starts all over again, with the public and the perpetrators apparently none the wiser.
The "he said, she said" legacy of the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas case may make for good gossip, but it has yet to incite real change to stop other abusers in their tracks. Whether it's the shortsighted worship of sports or God or the outrageous entitlement of a man with too much power, we need to channel our thirst for juicy tidbits into a long-term conversation about why sex abuse occurs in the first place.
The Sandusky case has tackled this problem more than the Cain coverage, shining a light on the neglect of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno. But even then, the focus has been more on Paterno's cowardice than the forces behind his decision.
Even the phrase—sex scandal—connotes a torrid love affair; more often than not, we're talking about rape, harassment, and abuse of power. Salacious language takes these incidents at face value and fails to place them alongside cultural patterns—much like convicted rapists are condemned (if we're lucky) out of context in a rape-apologist culture. Of course, the vast majority of people are not rapists and child molesters, and most CEOs don't sexually harass their subordinates. But if you bolster an abuser with too much privilege and leeway, he'll take it and run.
Every time we frame compulsive pedophiles as rogue psychos existing in a bubble, or sexual harassers as bosses who simply got "carried away," we embolden the next sex offender or skeevy executive to make a move. As the twin cases of Cain and Sandusky unfold, let's not only pay attention to the soundbites and lawyers, but the money and power that shielded them for so long.
Photo via (cc) Flickr user bentley_mcbentleson (This photo is a satire of the original.)
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DEM46
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It is almost always a power issue. Yes, money contributes to the sweeping under the rug mentality. We wouldn't want to damage our institution, (Penn St., Catholic Church, etc.) by admitting that there are rapists among us.
Admission that there are problems in a system based on power and money is a tough sell.
- 5 months ago
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DEM46
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good_stuff
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Let us make a clear distinction between the Cain and the Sandusky's of the world. They are not the same. One took advantage of children and the other made offers to women who could obviously say no (not surprisingly, most did say no).
If one explores this subject in terms of evolution, the difference becomes extremely clear. We need to stop making such a big deal out of the Cain, Clintons, and Tiger Woods type situations, as they distract from truely vile crimes like Sandusky commited. Male/Female interaction instincts developed over thousands of years cannot be undone in the few decades since DNA testing became available (impossible to prove before that time).
- 5 months ago
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good_stuff
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DEM46
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good_stuff:
One raped children and the other had consensual affair(s) and did indeed sexually harass other women. Personally, and socially as I see it we should not care about those who have consensual affairs. Sexual harassment is another matter in the case of Cain, Clinton, or anyone. This is a crime. Furthermore we should care as a society whether these public figures are breaking the law, lying, and purporting themselves as upstanding Christians (religious/pious) individuals to gain favor from the electorate to further their public service ambitions.
If a private person wants to have affairs, I don't care and neither should the public/society. If a private person is sexually harassing someone, we should all be concerned and it's illegal.
If a public person is lying about affairs, sexual harassment, or anything else while passing themselves off as pious, we should all be on them like flies on shit.Finally, Let's call Sandusky what he is - A RAPIST.
- 5 months ago
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DEM46
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Leen61
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I don't have a problem with the picture that was used for this article because this is how alot of people see sports....they don't care about anything except winning. Disgusting! When Penn state first broke, the college students were sticking up for Paterno and giving hell to the students who were rightfully protesting the sex abuse. These sex scandals are not about sex--they are about power, privilage, money and control. This is what goes on in sports as well as the Catholic church. The sex that goes on in these institutions is rape and rape is not about sex....it's about CONTROL! It's time these institutions really get looked into and clean house!
"New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan"----this asshole used to be Milwaukee's archbishop. He's a pedo protector.
- 5 months ago
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Leen61
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cantucwearebrothers
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This entire case is atrocious from start to finish. There are so many levels of incompetence and filth that it will be difficult to wash that away and that's the way it should be. This should taint that entire community for generations.
Only when there is enough social stigma placed on this type of behavior will it ever begin to turn around. As it stands now most offenders simply go on about their lives as if nothing has happened. Employers continue to employ them, wives remain married to them, family and friends continue to socialize with them; it's sickening.
- 5 months ago
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cantucwearebrothers
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gardener52
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I would like to know why it happens in the first place too. my daughter was victimized by her father when she was 9. he acted like he didn't do anything wrong. how could he think he didn't do anything wrong? well he spent 12 years in jail for it.
- 5 months ago
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gardener52
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BRAVATRAVELS
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gardener52:
sorry you had to endure such a horrible situation...t_t
12 years was a very good way to show your daughter your love for her :D you should be proud of your self .....Thanks for the comment....
- 5 months ago
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BRAVATRAVELS
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MSII
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The pictures at the top are disgraceful (even as satire I find that mindset obscene), and unfortunately (regardless of their satirical source) all too true of the mindsets of some (all too many) people. As it says at the bottom of the article "the money and power that shielded them for so long.". Absolutely disgusting!
- 5 months ago
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MSII
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Methuselah [removed]
- This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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Methuselah [removed]
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BRAVATRAVELS
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Methuselah:
Exactly;
we let the Media tell us what it is and what is not.....We always miss the opportunity to have an open debate about rape and abuse ...
- 5 months ago
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BRAVATRAVELS
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BRAVATRAVELS
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While the Media play with our minds; we are raising a society of spoiled unconscious little brats...
I know the picture is a joke but it is no too far from reality..
Sad times!!!
- 5 months ago
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BRAVATRAVELS
