Reading Porn

Citation

Jewkes, Y., & Wykes, M. (2012). Reconstructing the sexual abuse of children: Cyber-paeds, panic and power. Sexualities, 15(8), 934-952.

Research Questions

• In their paper, Jewkes and Wykes (2012) aim to investigate the contradictions and deflections present in todays representation of sexuality and childhood.
• Jewkes and Wykes (2012) also wants to evaluate the existing panic about the danger that pedophiles, especially those in cyberspace, pose to children in relation to the sexual danger which family and close friends may pose to the children.

Theoretical Frameworks

• Sexuality and Children
• Sexuality in the cyberspace
• Pedophilia
• Sexual abuse in children
• Patriarchy
• Public discourses
• Social responses
• Social moralities

Data and Evidence

The data and evidence used by Jewkes and Wykes (2012) are derived from research articles and other publications on the topic of sexuality, children, and cyberspace. The article is not based on an original study, so there is no primary data collection. 

• The linking of pedophilia & internet
• Parents and pedophilias
• Family and pedophilias
• Moral panic
• Misperceptions of justice
• Authors previous work
• Analyze criminal statistics in sexual abuse
• Family abuse

Methodologies

Jewkes and Wykes (2012) do not explicitly state methodologies used in collecting data and analysis. However, their presentation of data and evidence is in the form of citations and references, which suggests using literature review methodology for data collection and analysis. 

• Literature review
• News articles
• Historical data

Main Arguments

• The main argument presented by Jewkes and Wykes (2012) is that the fear of child safety from sexual abuse and pedophiles who are strangers has been exaggerated by media, mainly through the ever-growing internet.
• The writers argue that media has presented the “stranger” as the biggest threat and biggest cause of child sexual abuse and downplayed the danger posed by family members and father figures who have a close relationship and access to children. 

Other Thoughts and Connections

In a brief historical description, Jewkes and Wykes (2012) explain that during the 1970s, there was widespread news about how fathers, father figures, and even catholic priests were reported for child sexual abuse. However, with the growth of the internet and the rise of cyberspace, reporters are not paying attention to personal and family cases of child abuse but are increasingly demonizing child abuse through stranger pedophiles and child phonography