Beverly Chalmers

I've spent my whole academic life, which goes back about 50 years now, exploring women's and children's experiences in difficult social, political, religious, economic situations. My name is Beverly Chalmers.

I've spent my whole academic life, which goes back about 50 years now, exploring women's and children's experiences in difficult social, political, religious, economic situations. My name is Beverly Chalmers.

I live in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

I live in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Right. This book is called Child Sex Abuse, Power, Profit and Perversion. And that's how I see the whole picture.

Right. This book is called Child Sex Abuse, Power, Profit and Perversion. And that's how I see the whole picture.

I think it is always a crime. Teenagers are groomed, and they are encouraged to develop a friendship, a trust with the older teacher. And of course, teenagers do go through difficult periods with their families or their parents, or they may come from difficult, vulnerable situations. And then you trust someone who shows you love and friendship. So it's just easy. to be compliant with that person.

I think it is always a crime. Teenagers are groomed, and they are encouraged to develop a friendship, a trust with the older teacher. And of course, teenagers do go through difficult periods with their families or their parents, or they may come from difficult, vulnerable situations. And then you trust someone who shows you love and friendship. So it's just easy. to be compliant with that person.

But can you give consent, even if you go along with it for whatever reason? Do you understand the implications of it? Can you understand the consequences of it at that age? I doubt it. So for me, it's a crime. The obligation and the onus is on the perpetrator and on the teacher to not abuse the child.

But can you give consent, even if you go along with it for whatever reason? Do you understand the implications of it? Can you understand the consequences of it at that age? I doubt it. So for me, it's a crime. The obligation and the onus is on the perpetrator and on the teacher to not abuse the child.

It's easier to blame the girl. And blaming the victim is another major problem in this whole story. So often the girl child is regarded as being compliant because that's what we expect. But you didn't fight back. You went along with it. You came back for more. It's your fault.

It's easier to blame the girl. And blaming the victim is another major problem in this whole story. So often the girl child is regarded as being compliant because that's what we expect. But you didn't fight back. You went along with it. You came back for more. It's your fault.

And it's easier to say that when it is a girl as opposed to when it is a boy because we don't expect homosexual interactions to be that common. But with girls who are abused, we just think, oh, it's her fault. She did it. But blaming the victim is a common problem in this whole story from beginning to end. You ask for it. You didn't argue. You didn't fight too much.

And it's easier to say that when it is a girl as opposed to when it is a boy because we don't expect homosexual interactions to be that common. But with girls who are abused, we just think, oh, it's her fault. She did it. But blaming the victim is a common problem in this whole story from beginning to end. You ask for it. You didn't argue. You didn't fight too much.

Which helps explain why people don't talk about it or report it. And I don't blame anybody for not coming forward. I think it is absolutely amazingly heroic for people to come forward years later. And I don't care if it takes 20 years, 40 years, 50 years to report what happened.

Which helps explain why people don't talk about it or report it. And I don't blame anybody for not coming forward. I think it is absolutely amazingly heroic for people to come forward years later. And I don't care if it takes 20 years, 40 years, 50 years to report what happened.

It is so difficult to be believed and to be regarded with respect and treated with sensitivity because we as a society still don't allow it. Not only were the children abused, but the schools covered them up, moved the teachers somewhere else. I mean, the Catholic Church has been roundly and soundly chastised for this, but that's what happened. These teachers got off and the institutions got off.

It is so difficult to be believed and to be regarded with respect and treated with sensitivity because we as a society still don't allow it. Not only were the children abused, but the schools covered them up, moved the teachers somewhere else. I mean, the Catholic Church has been roundly and soundly chastised for this, but that's what happened. These teachers got off and the institutions got off.