Archive for the 'sexual health' Category

Apr 18 2009

Kate Winslet and The Reader: Is it Sexual Molestation When an Adult Woman has Sex with an Adolescent Boy?

Published by Bill Martin, LCSW under Counseling & Psychotherapy, Trauma & Abuse, sexual health, Sexual Abuse

In his review of the movie, The Reader, Daniel M.Kimmel says,

“The story is told in flashback by Michael (Ralph Fiennes), a German attorney. In the 1950s, at the age of 15, he is seduced by Hanna (Winslet), a streetcar conductor. Of course if this were an older man having sex with a 15-year-old girl, he would be considered a child molester. Keeping with our double standards, it is instead seen as the boy’s coming of age. Michael reads aloud to her and Hanna offers her body in return.”

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Apr 08 2009

The Catholic Pope on HIV Prevention, Part II

Published by Bill Martin, LCSW under Counseling & Psychotherapy, Trauma & Abuse, Violence research, sexual health, Allegory

I guess that none of the Pope’s assistants explained to him that marital fidelity, the issue he suggests will be more effective in preventing the epidemic spread of HIV/AIDS, is a little complicated in Cameroon. Polygamy, or men who have multiple wives, is common there.

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Apr 08 2009

The Catholic Pope on HIV Prevention

Published by Bill Martin, LCSW under Counseling & Psychotherapy, Trauma & Abuse, Violence research, sexual health, Allegory

I am probably a feminist therapist in many ways. I know how intense the Catholic church can be in its opposition to abortion.

I guess I would have hoped the Pope would have had a more enlightened message to the population of Sub-Sahara Africa as it deals with poverty, war, abuse of all kinds, and AIDS.

Although the CDC, Center for Disease Control, states clearly   latex condoms have been proven an effective prevention to pregnancy and all STDs, sexually transmitted diseases, the Pope declared that condoms somehow encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS.

So, condoms are part of the problem? I would say this message was not only irrational, but irresponsible.

There is a lot of Catholic rhetoric about standing up for principles…but only a few…and so what if they are dangerous to the health and well-being of millions of vulnerable adults and children.

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