Dear Ms Biggs.

I am a man raised in a Housing Commission area and I can not entirely agree with your statement that 12 year old girls do not initiate sexual contact with older boys or men.

My sexual career began at the age of 10, when I was damned near raped by two 10 year old girls who initiated sexual contact. In my former life as a bikie living in doss houses, I have had two occasions where 14 year old girls who fancied me simply strolled into my room and got into bed with me.

It has been my experience that young girls can be very curious about sex and may prefer to initiate low level sexual encounters, either for fun or to satisfy their own curiosity, with older men that they trust rather than with local boys who may blab to everybody in the neighbourhood of their experience. This idea was reinforced recently when the 13 year old daughter of my best friend summoned me to the family house on a pretext. The girl greeted me at the door in her underwear, the rest of her family had left for an outing, and she asked me if I would like to stay while she cooked some breakfast.

The problem of under age sexual behaviour I predict will increase for four reasons. Firstly, girls today are approaching mensus at aged 10 or 11, and the hormonal instincts of some of them will be seeking fulfillment.

Secondly, children today are exposed to a wealth of openly pornographic material and a plethora of peep show images which may excite them. Shows like Big Brother or female pop stars sexually gyrating in music video’s dressed as schoolgirls is now common.

Thirdly, the idea of adolecent girls as sexual partners is being culturally approved by movies such as "13" or "Lolita."

Fourthly, preteen fashions have now become very sexual. President Bush’s wife once said that she would like to “shoot Britney Spears.” I think that such action may have done more good for the world than the US invasion of Iraq.

For once I agree with you Redneck.

I am a 26 year old male and have recently been pursued by a 13 year old girl.

She was one of these girls who was very popular with the boys her age and dressed very slutty like.

I had told her many times that she was too young would bluntly reffer to her as jail bait. One night, when I was very drunk, she straddled me and started undoing my jeans. Needless to say, I threw her off and left.

That being said, it is the responsibility of the older male to just say "NO".

Redneck, Space Cadet and R0bert all agreeing on something - thats kind of scary :)

Redneck, I think your comments about young girls initiating low level sexual contact is spot on. It is a time of experimentation for many and older men may add a dimension for them that is not there with kids their own age. Same for young guys just the social issues are treated differently.

Space Cadet - to paraphrase your comment "it is the responsibility of the adult to say no".

Those who insist that the child will never initiate sexual contact are living with a delusional view of childhood. A delusion which does not address the real issues. About as realistic as those who think denying access to contraceptive devices will stop teenage sexual activity.

Kids need to be helped through this difficult period with care and gentleness by the adults around them. My son is still young enough that I expect to have some years yet before sexual experimentation is an issue for him. I want to be able to equip him with the tools to go through those times in a way that does not hurt himself or anybody else and to protect him from predators.

R0bert

How bizzare,

I once worked as an administrative assistant in a primary school, and had the unfortunate experience of being virtually stalked by a 13 year old girl (I was 19), because I had made the heinious error of judgment of talking to her (appropriately) when she came to the office.

This went on for three months, with me having to ensure that at no time was I in a position that I was ever caught anywhere alone by this person, for even if the situation were totatlly innocent, it would be my word against hers. In the end this caused me to resign for fear that despite my not having done, or even considered doing anything innapropriate, I was forced to be eternally vigilant, and wary of any encounter whatever, with this person.

Please do not misunderstand me, I do support the imposition of major sentences for child sexual abuse, however the perception that juvenile females (and males) do not instigate such behaviour is dangerous, and extremely predjudical to such offenders. However, recidivism should attract life without parole, as repeat offenders in this class of offences seem to reoffend quite regularly.

Hot topic this Barbara. How many people have actually read Lolita. Nabokov's controversial novel clearly shows the damage child sexual abuse causes. The story unfolds to show lolita's life is irreprably damaged by Humbert's selfish abuse. The novel is a masterpiece of psychology depicting the lies and games Humbert uses to manipulate Loita's mother and Lolita, and examines Humbert's denial. It describes Humbert's suffercating imprisonment of Lolita during her formative teenage years and the effect that has on her development. I can't comment on the films except to add that Romeo and Juliet were 12/13 years old in Shakespeares classic but have never been depicted this age in film due to censorship. Lolita is no different. Film makers have to twist the written art to fit the censor. To my mind we seem too imature as a society to deal with these issues with any real understanding and only lash out with hate cruelty and violence, the symptoms of fear.
Barfenzie

Come on girls, we know you are out there. Are we all just male chauvanist pigs fanticising over schoolgirl behaviour or do you agree that we have a point?

On the subject of the 13 year old who met me at the door in her underwear, I made my excuses and left immediately. But the young lassie was not through with me yet. Every time I went to her family home when it was hot, she would immediately disappear into her bedroom and emerge in a bikini. After diving into her parent's swimming pool and splashing around for a while, she would emerge all wet and go inside. She would then parade around in front of me in her bikini while her mother amd father were present in the room. Her father and mother pretended not to notice anything remiss and never told her to put some clothes on.

This was very embarrasing to me and I simply stopped going to see my friend on hot days.

Fortunately, she has now grown out of her "let's turn on redneck" routine. But I have witnessed similar behaviour with other young girls and I presume that it is normal adolescent behaviour.

It is easy to see how men who are very attracted to very young girls and who have little self control can take advantage of these situations. And I can understand how reprehensible it is for grown men to set out to deliberately seduce young girls. But I think that there is another side to the coin. I can not entirely agree that young girls can not be considered entirely innocent of deliberately encouraging the sexual attentions of older men.