Accusation of sexual misconduct: Assisting in the complaint process.

1990 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Gottlieb
Keyword(s):  
PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (Supplement 4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Brooke

Author(s):  
Sara Lynn Rependa ◽  
Robert T. Muller

This article discusses the case of a male vowed religious clergy, who was also in residential treatment for sexual misconduct and interpersonal difficulties. Importantly, this client also had a childhood history of sexual trauma. The case, difficult and complex in its own right, posed unique clinical challenges. The first author and therapist, a Catholic, feminist, woman often works with child trauma clients. Thus, the experiences of transference and countertransference were particularly important therapeutic considerations working with this client. Themes of power, sex, shame, guilt, and blame needed to be explored and processed in depth from the client’s and therapist’s perspectives both during session and supervision. Concurrent issues include personality disorders, physical disability, and psychosexual disorders. This client was referred by their religious institution and took part in a mandated fourteen to twenty-week residential programme. Therapeutic modalities include trauma-informed, attachment-oriented, and psychodynamic individual and grouporiented psychotherapy.


Author(s):  
Erin E. Buzuvis

This chapter highlights the role of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in transforming the gendered landscape of U.S. education. After first providing an overview of these two sources of law, the chapter examines the role they have played in challenging sex-based designations in admissions and in the classroom, in promoting equal opportunity and access to school-sponsored athletics, in challenging sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct, in reducing barriers to LGBT students, and in promoting equal opportunity for students who are pregnant. Sections addressing each one of these topics will also note limitations and shortcomings of the law’s approach to these issues, as there is still more work to do to fully realize sex equality in education. While the law has not cured all the problems of sex discrimination education, owing to limitations in its scope, as well as enforceability, it has proven to be a powerful source of societal norms and expectations, which themselves operate to motivate compliance and beyond.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052098038
Author(s):  
Melissa S. de Roos ◽  
Daniel N. Jones

The rise of the #MeToo movement highlights the prevalence of sexual victimization and gives a voice to victims who may have been silent before. Nevertheless, survivors or victims of sexual violence who come forward may be blamed or not believed. These reactions are evident both with adult and child victims. Further, fears about false accusations of sexual misconduct may negatively impact responses to disclosures. This study aimed to examine gender differences in perceptions toward the #MeToo movement, and the extent to which these translate into a skeptical response to disclosure. Further, we wanted to explore whether proximity to false allegations of sexual violence was linked with more negative responses and whether use of self-affirmations may decrease the likelihood of such a response. Through an online survey ( N = 235) on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, we assessed participants’ exposure to and perceptions of the #MeToo movement. Further, we asked them about their proximity to sexual violence (victimization or perpetration) and to false allegations. Using a threat manipulation (news article about false accusation) and a self-affirmation exercise, we studied the effects of both variables on responses to disclosure. Results indicated that after reading an article about a false accusation, male participants were more likely to blame a victim of childhood sexual abuse and to perceive the abuse as less harmful, compared with female participants. Further, we found that self-affirmation was linked with more supportive responses to a disclosure. These findings highlight the threatening nature of false accusations of sexual violence for men, and how this threat may shape the narrative regarding sexual violence. Opportunities to use self-affirmation to change this narrative to a more supportive one are discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen G. Weiss

An investigation of narratives from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) finds that one in three teenagers—12–18 years old—who experience an unwanted sexual incident perpetrated by another teen trivialize their incidents as minor, unimportant, or normal kid stuff. This study contextualizes these responses within a framework of ambivalence that highlights separately teens’ ambiguity of definitions, or uncertainty that incidents perpetrated by other teens (especially dating partners and schoolmates) are “real” crimes or offenses worth reporting, and adaptive indifference, a more tactical response to conflicting norms and allegiances that discourage teens from reporting their peers’ sexual misconduct to authorities. The context and consequences of teens’ ambivalence are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-302
Author(s):  
Catarina Sjölin ◽  
Helen Edwards

Misconduct in Public Office (MiPO) covers a wide and varied range of conduct. Beyond the defendant’s public office, there is no unifying conduct or result. A conviction for MiPO could represent putting pressure on a council official to move the route of a proposed road, or a police officer abusing his/her position for sexual gain. Sexual misconduct prosecuted as MiPO falls outside the usual regime for prosecuting and sentencing sexual offences, both obscuring the conduct by the label of MiPO and avoiding sexual offence specific consequences. To examine what kind of sexual offending MiPO has been covering, we analysed newspaper reports and appellate decisions since 2002. This enabled us to identify the conduct MiPO was being used to cover at charge, plea and conviction (or acquittal) stages. We found a significant amount of sexual misconduct being prosecuted as MiPO. We then analysed the sexual conduct to determine the “wrongs” involved, identifying particular categories. This enabled us to propose a new sexual offence (based on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 offences that are not founded on lack of consent), which marks the sexual wrong and enables a focus on the defendant’s abuse of position rather than the victim’s vulnerability. This article outlines the basis for our proposal to the Law Commission for reform of the common law offence of MiPO (as our second response to their consultations). Currently at the stage of Policy Development, the Commission aims to publish its report later this year.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document