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In reply to the discussion: EXCLUSIVE: Parents of underage victim in Kate Hunt's case defend actions [View all]magical thyme
(14,881 posts)What is "normal" in any society is to protect your child or your younger sibling.
And I can say with certainty that when I was 14 and she was 17, her friends did not consider me a peer. I was treated like the kid sister by both her female and male friends. Not one would have considered dating me.
Furthermore, at age 14-15 I was a member of the Delaware County Peace Action group, where I was enlisted as a draft advisor. I met and hung around young men right about 18 years old to be trained how to advise draft avoidance. Again, I was treated as a kid sister by every single one of them.
I also used to hang out at a friend's house after school, who's mother was a social worker in the nearby city. She always had young men from the city hanging around. Again, I was treated like their kid sister. We hung out, they did introduce me to pot, but other than that I was protected, not treated like a potential date ever, by any of them.
18 year olds don't normally seek out 14 year olds for dating relationships. At that age, a normal relationship is big sis-bro / little sis-bro.
Ime, when there is a large gap in ages (and at that age range, 4 years is a significant gap) the older party is generally seeking somebody they can easily manipulate and control. That Kate ignored her punishment, defied the victim's parents wishes and persisted in the sexual relationship kind of suggests that.