These days while many female teachers are getting charged with rape, the sentences they receive seem like a slap on the hand.
Female teachers are receiving lesser sentences than those of their male counterparts while conducting themselves in the same lewd manner.
Regardless of gender, a teacher engaging in a sexual act with a minor is statutory rape within the criminal justice system. Our society seems to blindfold its eyes in disbelief that female teachers are capable of raping young boys.
No longer are male instructors solely accused of raping children. And an astonishing and even overwhelming amount of sexual irresponsibility by female teachers is no longer hidden behind classroom doors.
Most recently, Florida middle school teacher Debra LaFave pled guilty to rape, and was ordered to register as a sex offender. This came after she was caught engaging in a sexual relationship with her 14-year-old student.
Rather than serving years in prison as deserved, LaFave seemingly evades the life of a criminal.
It has also become more apparent that the appearance of the predator affects the punishment received. In LaFave’s case, she is a striking young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, making her an object of desire.
Her appearance not only played a role in her sentencing, but she endured more media scrutiny than a typical sex offender.
Often, sexual predators undergo scorn and exile, yet women such as LaFave and most famously Mary K. Letourneau, have made engaging in sexual acts with a minor interesting instead of appalling. These cases have only fueled our society’s need to pry into the lives of others.
When the courts don’t fully scrutinize female rapists, their victims are affected as well.
It is time for America to treat men and women equal in all aspects of life.
Maintaining double standards for female rapists is a wrongdoing that poorly reflects our country and the American people as a whole.
No child, boy or girl, should have to fear or even worry what intentions his or her teacher may have.
A teacher’s job is to educate- not to lust over his or her students.
Alyssa Watts is a freshman broadcast journalism student from Bellevue, Wash. She can be reached at Mcamfan44@msn.com.