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The Press Council should be condemned
for upholding a complaint by Freda Briggs associated with correspondence to
The Press (June 13). The ruling will be unfortunate if it has a chilling
effect on debate. Freda Briggs had claimed that
there are "signs of child sexual abuse". More than one letter
writer disagreed with her, saying "there are no signs or behaviours that
are symptomatic of child sexual abuse. Indeed, non-abused children can and do
exhibit the same behaviours as abused children". Most academics realise the pen is
mightier than the sword. That Freda Briggs chose not to provide evidence of
her claim, that I know of, is telling. In recent days Freda Briggs has
again received publicity for her controversial opinion that parents should
not use teenage boys to baby-sit (Stuff, June 1). Will Freda Briggs make a
complaint to the Press Council, in response to my opinion that her statement
is an example of misandry? |
