Female sex offenders who abuse children whilst working in organisational contexts: offending, conviction and sentencing

Abstract

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Sexual abuse by educators: a comparison between male and female teachers who sexually abuse students

“…Contrary to public perceptions, Darling et al (2018) found through their in-depth case analysis of professional regulator decisions, media reports, court reports, and relevant website content, these female perpetrators were neither inexperienced naïve teachers nor fit the stereotype of females coerced by men to offend against young children. Most appeared to offend as a result of situational and contextual factors rather than any evident sexual preference for children or pre-disposition to sexually offend.…”

“…These women shared similarities found in other female sexual offender studies, including unstable lifestyles, relationship difficulties, emotional self-management problems, low self-esteem, isolation, and loneliness. However, there was less evidence of substance abuse, mental health problems, chaotic backgrounds, and previous victimisation among these women (Darling et al, 2018).…”

“…Regarding abuse location, male teachers predominantly used the school followed by their home, whereas female teachers mostly abused in their home followed by in the community. Darling et al (2018) also found females often perpetrated abuse in their own home (46.3%) or in their cars (33.1%).…”

“…To the authors' knowledge, only several studies have explored female teachers who have engaged in sexual misconduct. In one study, Darling, Hackett, and Jamie (2018) explored 71 cases of female-perpetrated sexual abuse in an institutional context in the UK. Darling et al (2018) found female teachers made up the majority of perpetrators (78%) across these settings.…”

“…In one study, Darling, Hackett, and Jamie (2018) explored 71 cases of female-perpetrated sexual abuse in an institutional context in the UK. Darling et al (2018) found female teachers made up the majority of perpetrators (78%) across these settings. Darling et al (2018) found about two-thirds of women were aged in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties (M=31.3 years), solo offenders (only two co-offended with male partners), had been in their career for more than three years, did not have a criminal or professional misconduct history, and abused 15 to 16-year-old males (female high school teachers were the most frequent perpetrators included in their sample).…”