"On the morning of Thursday, November 10th 2005 I suddenly found myself on the outskirts of a journey into the warfare of a moral panic...
The cause of all this was a paper that I had originally written and submitted to a journal back in 1999. As sometimes happens, following a rejection, I’d put it to one side and moved on to other things. Years later, a chance conversation informed me that a new publication had been launched, for which my erstwhile article might be suitably updated. I duly sent it in...
The paper drew on life history data to discuss the undoubtedly sensitive area of consensual romantic and sexual relationships between teachers and pupils in secondary schools. In writing the paper my intention was to highlight the importance of discourse, and through the stories of individuals who had such relationships, invite critical consideration of what is sometimes presented as a straightforward, uncontroversial issue. At no point did I seek to justify or excuse paedophilia, child abuse, underage sex, or exploitative relationships. Indeed I wrote:
I am aware that some readers may find the content of the paper and the nature of the discourse I will be using questionable and maybe even dangerous and irresponsible. On the basis of the particular stories I have been told, this is no reason not to proceed. If, as researchers, we have an interest in ‘naming silenced lives’ (see McLaughlin & Tierney, 1993), using the stories and words of those who live them, and thereby, possibly challenging orthodoxies and norms, we have to think very carefully about why we might wish to deny some people voice (eg paedophiles, see Plummer, 1995 p. 118). We also have to consider issues around the representation and potential negative ‘othering’ (see Fine, 1994) of the people whose tales we use and tell.
Anticipating criticism I wish to state my belief that stories of this kind do have something important to tell us about the way in which discourses of sexuality operate in schools. (Sikes, pending publication no page numbers)
Of course I knew that this was a tricky area and within the paper had quoted references to ‘moral panic’ concerning children and sex. However, and as I was soon to learn, there is a vast difference between knowing this intellectually and living it experientially. Ironically, perhaps, I was to find out just how the link between theory and experience could prove problematic.
"A Cautionary Tale..." continued:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/qualiti/forums/viewtopic.php?p=27&sid=51a8d434b93fed96a6fd67d31f9e3cd6
by Pat Sikes, University of Sheffield
by way of Growing Up Sexually Topica E-mail:
In November last year, an education lecturer at Sheffield university made the headlines with a then unpublished paper.
http://www.tes.co.uk/2153925
http://education.independent.co.uk/news/article326343.ece
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47374
The paper is:
Sikes, P. (pending publication) ‘Scandalous Stories and Dangerous
Liaisons: When Male Teachers and Female Pupils Fall in Love’ Sex
Education--as cited in an April 4 reflection, by the prof, with a reply by Epstein, a well known author in the field of education and gender.
>related: ESRC Media Training
Posted by Stubbornson at June 26, 2006 11:00 AM