By Minka Koskinen

Former Hudson fifth grade teacher, Abigail Michelle Faust, has been charged with sexual misconduct involving her students. Faust has been charged in Minnesota where she is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy. Faust faces multiple charges with additional allegations of soliciting nude photos of the minor and sending nudes of herself to the victim as well. Sentencing for Faust is set for December 19.

Former Wisconsin elementary teacher, Madison Bergmann, was charged and pleaded guilty to two counts of two counts of sexual misconduct by school staff and one count of child enticement. She was accused of sending inappropriate texts and the teacher engaged in sexual contact with a minor who was also her student. The child is reported to have been 11-years-old. Sentencing for Bergmann is set for December 22.

The crimes that these two women are charged with brings an important conversation. Research shows that patterns in sentencing with female defendants, including sexual offense crimes, have shown that women often receive more lenient treatment compared to their male counterparts. Male defendants are frequently given longer incarceration sentences and less plea deals for the same or similar charges.

Media framing for female predators are also framed differently. The verbiage used for female predators are often softened, focus on personal lives of the predator, and use verbiage and framing that minimizes the crime. 

It is important to remember regardless of the gender of the predator or the victim that sexual assault and misconduct is something that needs to be taken seriously and punished to the furthest extent of the law and how we talk and frame these discussions matter.