Female sexual violence is often treated as a victimless crime. The social expectation is that male victims, regardless of their age, should like and enjoy any sex offered by women. While society still holds less than positive views about female sexuality, the conventional wisdom is that female sexuality is harmless, as is the female body. This view is not limited to those who cheer when they hear about a woman molesting her student, but also those who profess concern for victims of sexual violence. The notion that women cannot physically or sexually harm anyone is a very pervasive idea. That idea, however, tends not to be true:
A Canton woman was sentenced to 13 years in prison Thursday for sexually molesting a 6-year-old Peoria County boy a decade ago.
Bonnie J. McDonald, 49, of 642 N. 12th Ave. apologized but admitted there was really nothing she could say to the boy, now a high school senior, that could make things better. And indeed, the victim confirmed that, saying that he wished the death penalty were an option for McDonald.
“I will never forget what you did. I hate you,” the teen said during the hourlong hearing.
—-
Although the assault occurred sometime between May and August 1998, the statute of limitations was extended because the child, now 17, had not reached 18 yet, which allowed charges to be filed.
According to court records, McDonald was watching the child, who was home sick from school, when she allegedly fondled him and performed a sex act upon him. The incident came to light recently when the teen, who told Shadid he had tried to kill himself as a result of the abuse, told his parents.
According to the article, the convicted child rapist raped another boy, although she remains uncharged for that offense. Her defense for her actions was that she was drunk during both assaults. As the prosecutor noted, that is not an excuse for an adult forcing herself on two children. It is entirely possible that she has abused other boys who have no come forward and that she has not admitted to. Fortunately, this woman will have to serve eighty-five percent of her sentence, meaning that even with good behavior she will spend at least a decade behind bars. That is an important step in the right direction because far too often female pedophiles are allowed to walk with little more than probation and a couple of months of sex offender treatment.
The more important thing is the effect the rape had on this boy. Again, society tends to deem these acts as harmless, and many with political agendas back that notion for different reasons. However, no one tries to commit suicide over a harmless act. What this boy did shows the need for outreach and services for male victims. Had those existed, there is a good chance that this woman could have been caught earlier and more importantly that this boy would not have tried to kill himself.
Imagine had this boy managed to kill himself. It is not very likely his parents would have known why. How many times have people heard of cases like that, where boys and men commit suicide for no reason? It is time for people realize just how traumatizing and devastating the violation of a boy’s body and his trust are. While no one wants to hear that or accept it, it does have a major impact on victims’ lives and it probably far more pervasive than people are willing to accept.
