Incest

[Tsmichelle]

Is incest illegal in England between an adult mother and her 16 year old son? And if so, who is charged - the mother, for being the older one, or the male?

[yes-doc]

It is illegal and the mother would get charged because they would acuse her of grooming him. also she should know better because she's the mother.

Sick the pair of them - really - although you can argue what's normal these days, I think most people would agree there is definately something wrong with their minds and logic to do this.

[Tsmichelle]

I agree it's sick for both of them. Thing is, the male in question had previously been abused by his father (father initiated) and he went to his mother and he initiated it. I mean, if my son came to me for sex, boy wouldn't that raise a red flag!? Not in her case, however. I think there's something seriously wrong with her judgement.

[scoobydooby]

Why aren't you reporting them ??? Perhaps you are going to - now that you know it's illegal. If you're not going to........then that kinda makes you a bit sick too?

[Tsmichelle]

Was that a well-thought out answer, or did you come up with that just off the top of your head?

I've got a come back for you - If you can't be helpful, **** off.

[scoobydooby]

I wasn't suggesting that 'you' were sick - I was simply trying to make the point that anyone in a situation like yours would be if they didn't report the situation, knowing what was happening - hence the reason for the question mark at the end of the 'question'. I'm sure that having concerns about this relationship and having sought advice as to whether or not it's illegal - you will now do the right thing and report these monsters. Continuing to get away with it could have an impact on the son's children (if he ever has any). Having been abused by his father - he's clearly not of sound mind and thinks it's all okay. Something needs to be done, whether it's psychiatric help.......I don't know, but will he think it's okay to have sex with his own daughter one day?? Your come back was very well thought out wasn't it? If you geniunely believed I was being rude to you, why didn't you simply challenge me by saying that you would report it? I suspect that your response indicates that you've no intention of reporting them, which is a shame - and I hope I'm wrong.

[confusedpete]

perhaps theres more to it than it seems, ???????????

[Teloz]

Let's not be silly about this, whilst I abhor the abuse of children in any way, sex between parents and offspring and brothers and sisters only becomes a problem when pregnancy occurs.

The act of intercourse, provided it is between consenting people over the legal age of consent should not be a legal problem, especially in these days when contraception is readily available. The risk of the surfacing of recessive genes is the real problem if there is any issue from the union, and could lead to children with mental or physical disabilities. This is the only reason for incest to be controlled.

What the actual risks are I don't know, I'm not a geneticist, but the imposition of one persons moral standards on another is wrong. Only the physical problems should be recognised.

[confusedpete]

I agree entirely teloz, for instance i can remember when homsexuality was illegal, and you could, and would have gone to prison for commiting it if found out, but look at it today, it's perfectly acceptable, I can foresee in the near future that it will probably be mandatory, especially if you want to be a television personallity.
but at the moment i cant see what all the fuss is about regarding incest between consenting adults. and i would not be at all suprised if i found out that there is a lot of it going on.

[amonty1144]

This is a very interesting article, it is the states but gives an interesting spin on why incest is illegal. As it shows the first reasons for it's illegality is religion.

http://edition.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/columns/fl. grossman.incest.04.09/

[jackthehat]

Interesting article...............but it is specific to 'cousins' and doesn't address the issue raised by Tsmichelle.

A parent/child relationship of the nature described in the post is wrong on so many levels.

Your flippant comments, Confusedpete, really don't bring anything to this post...........

[Dusty Bin]

"Reporting them" to whom?

I guess the police was scoobydooby's suggestion, was it?

Not sure how this would help either the mother or the son?

Is the issue to be addressed not why the son feels the need to have intercourse with his mother?

The mother may feel by succumbing to her son's desires she is helping him, but long term I doubt it.

How well do you know either the mother or the son Tsmichelle? Who are you more concerned for? I note you are questioning the illegality as opposed to the morality issue. Is this of relevance?

[confusedpete]

You are quite right jack the hat, my answer was flippant, and does not help the person posting the original question,
i do appologise, as i should have given it more thought before postng an answer.

[jackthehat]

Thanks for that, Confusedpete.
Usually, apologies are like rocking-horse droppings round here.........

[Tsmichelle]

Thank you all for your answers. i didn't read the link as I noted that it was about cousins. People who of the opinion that incest between consenting adults is A OK - I disagree with you. I think it is wrong, though I can't explain exactly why, and I think that incest between a parent and child is even worse morally because of the difference in status between the two. the parent is a power figure. I think there needs to be sexual boundaries between close relatives. The boy in question was previously abused by his father - held down and masturbated over, etc. and the boy felt bad about it. When he later went to his mother for sex (that would be a red, red flag to me that something was wrong!!) I believe it was because he was confused about whether it was normal or right for children to have sex with their parents, I think he was looking for boundaries and clarity, and he didn't get it. I feel his mother abused him further. The boy in question died at the age of 38 due to heroin abuse; he suffered mental illness since the age he was abused by his mother. The reason I'm asking these questions is that, though nothing can be done to help this man now, I am keen to protect this woman's grandson. I'm in two minds about whether I can trust her with him - he is now 14, 2 years younger than his father was when he was abused by her. Any thoughts?

[andrea81]

Really difficult, but the question is if something did happen with the grandson you would have wished you had!