18 April 2018 Currents
> continued from page 16 girl talks freely with this stranger, and even tells him where she is going.
The wolf, delighted that he has charmed his intended victim, runs quickly to the grandmother’ s house. He gobbles up the poor old lady, and puts on her clothes so as to disguise himself. Then he jumps into the grandmother’ s bed, and eagerly awaits Little Red Riding Hood.
What happens next depends on which version of the fairy tale you read. One has a happy ending where a hunter rescues Little Red Riding Hood, and then kills the big bad wolf. The other has a sad ending where the wolf devours the poor girl, and escapes into the forest.
The Internet has made it easier for sexual predators to find potential victims. Many adolescents spend hours in chat rooms where they strike up friendships with strangers. Online, they have a false sense of security, and even set up real-life meetings with these cyber pals. Like Little Red Riding Hood, they lack the maturity to recognize the dangers, despite warnings from their parents and advice from their teachers.
Today law enforcement agencies have new, sophisticated techniques which can help them identify sexual predators, rescue victims, and bring criminals to justice. Police and community support are, however, not enough to protect young people from the“ big bad wolves” of the 21st century.
Adolescents and adults must communicate. Young people, especially when they feel ashamed or vulnerable, must not be afraid to discuss their problems and fears with adults. Likewise, adults – be they parents, relatives, friends or teachers – must be willing to talk openly with young people about their concerns. To encourage such exchanges, adults should try to offer moral support and constructive suggestions rather than harsh criticism and judgmental solutions.
The story about Little Red Riding Hood teaches three important lessons. First, sexual predators are nothing new. Second, society has the responsibility to protect children from these unsavory individuals. Third, communication between adolescents and adults can help protect young people from sexual predators.