Children grabbed, chased by men in park
TWO children escape a terrifying abduction bid, and a teenager is sexually assaulted in the street.
Now, this is a pretty terrifying type story, which warrants attention. I’m also rather pleased that sexual assault is being reported on, as street harassment and assault are all to common – as the excellent Hollaback Australia attests to. However, the assault and the harassment are two seperate incidents, and therefore need two seperate headlines. News.com.au is deliberately linking these stories to create alarm and continue the ever-present theme of moral panic and “sexual predators”. In Australia sex crime offenders are being relegated to third class citizens, their right to privacy and a fair trial is increasingly under threat, there are registers upon registers which are increasingly easy to get your name attached to. The news even reports on suburbs holding public meetings to kick people out and so forth. It must be remembered that these people have rights – and no one waives all of their rights by committing a crime. Your child is also 4-5 times more likely to be abducted or assaulted by someone they know – so the focus on, and panic about, “sexual preditors” also does very little to actaully protect children.
It pedals panic, which News.com.au hopes will generate more readers.
There’s also a simple test to check if this is the case – read the above headline and byline as one, what’s your first respone? and what do you feel? Its not good is it, it also seems like its the one perpetrator. Then treat them are two seperate stories they are, and gauge your initial reaction, and knowledge of events – Which makes you feel better and less panicked?
