Rape, not an issue

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I note with concern the data in the Friday, October 19, 2012 edition of your paper which suggest that the male population is now statistically larger than females in 11 parishes.

This is a trend which will require very serious demographic analysis. This is so because of the serious implication for gender relations.

China is a good case study, where kidnappings of women and other unhealthy acts characterise much of the rural parts of that country, where a similar pattern has emerged.

In our case, we are experiencing a social epidemic of rapes. Could there be a correlation between what the data are showing us and this emerging trend?

As a teacher at a prominent high school, I have discussed these issues with my male students and am distressed to say they are ambivalent at best about rape. They are not convinced it is 'all that bad', unless a minor is involved. We live in interesting and challenging times.

We must encourage greater informed public debate about these issues.

REVERTON BAILEY

rbailey@jc.edu.jm