Sexual Abuse by Educators: Common Misconceptions of Male vs Female Teachers Who Sexually Abuse Students

There’s a stereotype that suggests that male teachers are the only ones capable of sexually abusing students. However, this is not the case. Teachers, both male and female, have been guilty of committing sexual abuse.

Why this mistaken belief exists can be difficult to identify, and there are several different theories. One may be that more males seem to be guilty of sexual abuse among adults. However, this could be because males often hold power in an imbalance between two parties.

A similar power dynamic is at play in cases when women are guilty of sexually abusing students. Things like grades and academic opportunities are used to coerce sexual behavior. In the teacher/student relationship, it is the teacher who holds authority and power over their student.

Another theory as to why this misconception exists is that a reporting bias leads to people dismissing legitimate cases against females or generally underreporting them because of the shame involved. A similar factor could be that the public reaction and coverage of cases involving female abusers is treated with less seriousness than when a male abuser is involved.

Another misconception that contributes to stereotypes is the idea that abuse by a female is somehow not as serious a crime as when committed by a male. There is a mistaken idea that it is somehow less traumatic, particularly when the victim is a male.

The Effects of Gender Bias in Teacher Sexual Abuse

There is real harm that can result from this stereotype and the potential causes behind it. It can lead to accusations of abuse by females not being treated as seriously as those of males. It also perpetuates the idea that male victims of female abusers are somehow “okay” with the abuse and will not be harmed by it. This is a dangerous idea that can lead to problems for male victims of female teachers. In such cases, female perpetrators could be dealt minor punishments or no punishments at all.

It’s important that we recognize that educators, both male and female, are capable of committing sexual abuse. Schools should have preventative measures in place that apply to all teachers, regardless of gender.

FAQs

Q: Is a School Responsible for an Educator Committing Sexual Abuse?

A: It is possible for a school to be held responsible in the case of an educator committing an act of sexual abuse. Typically, this won’t mean any kind of criminal responsibility unless someone else in the school or district had a more direct involvement in the abuse. However, the school could be held liable in civil court for what happened.

Civil claims go beyond merely punishing those who did something wrong; they also address those who should have done more. In many cases, this is true of the schools or school districts involved.

There is often a lack of sufficient supervision of educators, a lack of background checks, a lack of resources for students who feel threatened by teachers, or some other insufficiency in the protections in place. These inadequacies could be considered negligence and lead to liability on the part of the school district.

Q: Do Criminal Convictions Impact a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

A: A criminal conviction may not have a direct impact on a civil claim, but there are a number of ways that it could still impact the case. A central element of a civil claim is proving what happened, and a criminal conviction can be helpful in establishing that the abuse in question did occur. If suing an institution, it may still be necessary to prove its negligent actions, but the conviction, and even evidence presented in the criminal trial, may prove helpful to the plaintiff.

Q: Why Should a Victim Consider Filing a Civil Claim in an Educator Sexual Abuse Case?

A: There are two different reasons that victims of abuse may want to consider filing a civil claim against the district that employed their abuser. One reason is the possibility of financial compensation. The financial aspect of the case isn’t expected to be a solution to what happened, but it may help with recovery and managing the consequences.

Another important consideration is the aspect of change that a successful civil claim could bring about. When an entity is found liable for failing to implement certain protocols and protection measures, it will likely implement them to avoid future lawsuits, as could other schools. One of the positive aspects of filing a civil claim is that it may spark change that means others don’t have to suffer abuse in the same way.

Regardless of Who Committed Sexual Abuse, the DeMarco Law Firm Can Help

Whether an educator who committed sexual abuse was male or female is irrelevant to the question of whether they should be held accountable. Sexual abuse by any educator is unacceptable, predatory, and abuse of a position of authority. It’s absolutely critical that those who commit these actions are held accountable. Hopefully, criminal charges will be brought against the perpetrators.

Comprehensive justice in these cases, though, extends beyond the perpetrators themselves. Parents and students put their trust in schools and school districts that are charged with the care of children for so many hours of the day. It’s the responsibility of these institutions to see to the safety and security of their students. There should be sufficient measures in place to prevent sexual abuse and predatory behaviors.

Filing a civil claim may ensure that all parties who bear responsibility see justice. It’s a process that can provide compensation to the victims and also lead to change that better protects students in the future. If you’ve suffered sexual abuse at the hands of an educator, contact us to discuss what options may be available to you.