It’s an unfortunate truth that men’s involvement with children is regarded with suspicion. I’ve been thinking about this with the backdrop of Kavenaugh’s confirmation.
Is it really that strange (however deeply wrong and damaging it might be) that a culture that downplays male sexual violence as an inevitable part of of boys growing up; or that insists that men’s need for sex is so constant and uncontrollable that sexual assault is a natural outcome does not trust men?
I don’t think it’s possible to hold those beliefs as well as the belief that men are to be trusted with the most vulnerable.
I know that men are just as capable of kindness or cruelty as women. I’ve seen more than a few examples of men who act with real kindness and empathy.
I would not call the police on a male babysitter of any race.
But I’d be remiss to ignore all the mistreatment I’ve personally experienced and witnessed, or the way that sexual violence by men is excused, and sometimes encouraged.
It’s a terrible double bind.
Edited to complete a sentence.
