Dangerous Liaisons

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In nearly every case of female-teacher sexual abuse, the relationship is discovered by a third party. Boys often tell friends of their involvement with the teacher, but they generally don't see themselves as victims and are therefore unlikely to report abuse to parents or authorities. In fact, unlike female victims, they may be envied or held in higher esteem by their peers.

A double standard also exists within the criminal-justice system. San Diego elementary-school teacher Thad Jesperson was sentenced to 15 years to life last year for molesting four girls over two academic years. Also in 2005, a South Carolina judge gave Mark Vail, a former church schoolteacher and coach, 10 years for having sex with a student, then 12. Female perpetrators, by contrast, tend to get brief sentences and probation, as in Lafave's case and Letourneau's first one.

"Society is very concerned about protecting the virginity of girls but not so much with boys," explains Kliman. "There has been a tradition in many societies of women initiating boys into a sexual relationship or where boys are sent off to have sex with a prostitute, and that's sometimes regarded as being helpful to shy and sexually unassertive boys."

But experts are quick to point out that boys are also victims, and they may suffer long-term consequences from their abuse. "Crossing the boundary from trusted teacher to romantic partner is likely to cause a long-standing distrust of authority figures," says Kliman. "It sets up a link between strong gratification and strong corruption. The boy will probably be confused by what other moral boundaries he should expect to be broken."

Lafave's victim is now a high school sophomore. He plays basketball, has a new driver's license and doesn't like to talk about what happened. His mother says he just wants to move on.