I think it also points to what spaced said above about changing and evolving attitudes in society. You only have to look at homosexuality moving from an illegal act to legalising marriage in a generation. Child protection has also been heightened over recent years, after many high profile abuse scandals and kidnappings. Children being free to roam and play in the streets/parks have now been replaced in the main by supervised and safe environments. As such our attitudes as a society to 15 year olds and sex is a more conservative than ever as we look to protect the age of innocence. Sex with a consenting 15 year old would have seen the law questioned more than the individuals involved back in the 70s
There is no such thing as a consenting 15-yr-old in law...the point is that they are considered too young to give informed consent. This crime is aggravated by the fact that he is considerably older (no one would want to see a 16-yr-old boy prosecuted) and (in my eyes) by the fact he met her at the club and took advantage of her holding him in awe. Her replies may seem saucy, but no way would she want to appear childish to him. No way was this an equal relationship.
Whatever our views on how we communicate today. The ability to be able to record and survey those communications has helped tremendously in bringing a case such as this to justice.
Here's how our societal values and the media etc are so messed up. Interesting reading the Britney thing - you'd think with our heightened sense of over sexualisation of children that might have changed in my industry now - let me introduce you to highly tipped new star Petite Meller. Try watching her video, particularly if you have a daughter, without feeling uncomfortable. The same papers lavishing over Johnson's crimes will be praising her, you can bet. The Lolita effect is well and truly still alive.
That's a catchy piece of Europop. The close up of her gyrating against crops was a tad unnecessary. I don't know how old she is, but the girls in the video are wearing clothing to make them look young.
I agree with you. Appalling. It's bad enough seeing teenage-like Miley Cyrus plastering her genitalia all over the Net. People will say, well don't look, but it's almost unavoidable. And they're all doing it, from Cyrus to Lady Gaga. Yes, the latter is a mature woman, but does pop music really have too be sold by overt female sexualisation? As for that video above. It sends out every wrong message. Believe me, I'm no prude, but I find it all a right turn-off, and that's a relatively unimportant reason why they shouldn't be selling themselves in this way. I would hope Fable doesn't go down that route.
Not a chance. Fear not. She's a very confident and comfortable lady in her own skin, but has precisely zero interest in selling music through sexualisation.
Worst thing for me is the pageant crap that is slowly coming across from the US. Freaks me out young children being made to act like that.
Agree with a lot of this, as much as you hear more about protecting children now, the reality is that children are more sexualised than ever before, become sexually active earlier and because of the internet are probably more aware of sex than in the past. You see underage girls wearing much more provocative, "sexier" outfits now than they would have even in the nineties, 12-year-olds in revealing clothes on High Streets, under 10s with questionable slogans on their outfits. Hell, there have even been leopard print bikinis for 6-year-olds.
Still a lot of parents who have little ambition for their daughters....not as if you make a living from tarting yourself up and making an exhibition of yourself....oh, hold on. Joking aside, too many parents encourage girls to be superficial.
Also would you not agree that too many parents are encouraging their children to dress older than they really are? For me children are being encouraged to grow up a lot younger than they need be. The age of innocence seems to be getting younger and younger........Or is it me getting older and older?
The worst bit about Miley Cirus is that as a father of a 13 year old today, I realise she is really Hannah Montannah... Same with the Adriana wotshername ....
Trial is back under way at Bradford Crown Court. 4 Witnesses to give evidence today including the girl. Judge has issued a ban of live reporting for certain sections of evidence so will be slow updates and summaries I imagine. I wonder if he'll take the stand himself?