Cultural attitudes in Australia trivialise or normalise sexual abuse of children by women. So its unclear how much sexual abuse of children in childcare is perpetrated by women.
Given the recent trend of increasingly frequent reports of child sexual abuse perpetrated by women involving school aged children (Australia and internationally), and preschool aged children (internationally), is it simply that female sexual abuse of pre-school children abusers is not being reported in Australia?
I think there is no question sexual abuse by women is under-reported. Since the wider societal numbers hovers anywhere from 2-11%, saying they only found 2 cases of women in 142 means under-reporting, particularly in a profession that is focused on children and therefore will attract predators.
A similar example is found among teachers, as you point out - the apparently increasing numbers of women being reported is not confirmation bias, female sexual abuse in schools runs at around 30%. Since there are even less men in pre-school than in regular school, that number for pre-schools / early childhood should arguably be even higher.
Although banning all men from working in childcare might drastically reduce the possibility of child sex abuse occurring in centres, there would still be cases of sadistic and cruel abuse committed against children in childcare. I would much prefer to have a conversation about childcare as an institution and whether its expansion is really a good thing for our children and society.
Really great article Lori and its changed my line of thinking about how to view these events. I am also thinking along the lines Tim mentioned about the worth of childcare. The usual suspects have jumped in talking about 'good quality childcare' and the demonstrated benefit to children, even though these supposed benefits are easily picked apart. My view is babies should not be in care institutions, they are entirely defenceless and not able to speak up. It would solve a big 'systemic problem' caused by the high demand on workers who look after these babies. I think we should also cut down on kids being placed in these institutions when the parents have other options eg parent at home with a baby, toddler goes to care.
I agree but Australia's economy, quite deliberately, has been restructured in recent generations so basically all parents have to work just to pay for food and housing. My wife and I tried keeping one parent home at all times, alternating who it was for various reasons at different times, and its very difficult. We need ground-up structural reform of how we do everything from child-rearing to working to providing affordable housing to schooling: I don't claim to know where to start to make it all happen.
Congratulations on the choice you made for your children. We were paying for a house when interest rates were nearly 20% and we did that on one income. We had a second hand car, no hot water in the kitchen, lack of bedroom space, one bathroom for four kids. They never went to childcare.
I think we let parents off the hook a bit with the financial difficulties. There are parents in desperate straights but there are many parents who have a real choice between the loving care they can give their children or going for a higher standard of living. I think these parents have to be confronted with the consequences of their childcare choices. At present it is too easy to look away and carry on. We also have to stop the propaganda about the benefits of childcare and parents have to be aware of the downsides for their child of even well run childcare.
So its starting... thanks Alfreed. Any male staff who realize the child in their care needs changing should place said child straight on the manager's desk.
Cultural attitudes in Australia trivialise or normalise sexual abuse of children by women. So its unclear how much sexual abuse of children in childcare is perpetrated by women.
Given the recent trend of increasingly frequent reports of child sexual abuse perpetrated by women involving school aged children (Australia and internationally), and preschool aged children (internationally), is it simply that female sexual abuse of pre-school children abusers is not being reported in Australia?
I think there is no question sexual abuse by women is under-reported. Since the wider societal numbers hovers anywhere from 2-11%, saying they only found 2 cases of women in 142 means under-reporting, particularly in a profession that is focused on children and therefore will attract predators.
A similar example is found among teachers, as you point out - the apparently increasing numbers of women being reported is not confirmation bias, female sexual abuse in schools runs at around 30%. Since there are even less men in pre-school than in regular school, that number for pre-schools / early childhood should arguably be even higher.
Although banning all men from working in childcare might drastically reduce the possibility of child sex abuse occurring in centres, there would still be cases of sadistic and cruel abuse committed against children in childcare. I would much prefer to have a conversation about childcare as an institution and whether its expansion is really a good thing for our children and society.
Really great article Lori and its changed my line of thinking about how to view these events. I am also thinking along the lines Tim mentioned about the worth of childcare. The usual suspects have jumped in talking about 'good quality childcare' and the demonstrated benefit to children, even though these supposed benefits are easily picked apart. My view is babies should not be in care institutions, they are entirely defenceless and not able to speak up. It would solve a big 'systemic problem' caused by the high demand on workers who look after these babies. I think we should also cut down on kids being placed in these institutions when the parents have other options eg parent at home with a baby, toddler goes to care.
I agree but Australia's economy, quite deliberately, has been restructured in recent generations so basically all parents have to work just to pay for food and housing. My wife and I tried keeping one parent home at all times, alternating who it was for various reasons at different times, and its very difficult. We need ground-up structural reform of how we do everything from child-rearing to working to providing affordable housing to schooling: I don't claim to know where to start to make it all happen.
Congratulations on the choice you made for your children. We were paying for a house when interest rates were nearly 20% and we did that on one income. We had a second hand car, no hot water in the kitchen, lack of bedroom space, one bathroom for four kids. They never went to childcare.
I think we let parents off the hook a bit with the financial difficulties. There are parents in desperate straights but there are many parents who have a real choice between the loving care they can give their children or going for a higher standard of living. I think these parents have to be confronted with the consequences of their childcare choices. At present it is too easy to look away and carry on. We also have to stop the propaganda about the benefits of childcare and parents have to be aware of the downsides for their child of even well run childcare.
https://7news.com.au/news/inspire-early-learning-bans-male-workers-from-changing-nappies-at-their-centres-c-19248989?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLUjJljbGNrAtSMlWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEesTjMJxUQA9LIiUIsNyt7x9GkNsu8TUniX2YnXL89CKoX6zEYZEZwEDXmqVE_aem_WTL2JEjHq6SB8DIIPfUS5A
So its starting... thanks Alfreed. Any male staff who realize the child in their care needs changing should place said child straight on the manager's desk.
Very good getting that out there so quickly, Lori.
Thanks Bettina!
Another great article.
Thanks for your work Lori
Was it a man or a women that hired him and managed him?