Soccer Coach Arrested in Internet Sting

Last Thursday I was watching the noon news and making lunch when I heard a story come on about an internet predator being caught in Louisville, KY. I looked up and to my astonishment saw one of my good friends plastered all over the news. Robert Haile, 25, was arrested in a police sting attempting to catch internet predators trying to meet under aged girls for sex. A Louisville police detective posed as a young girl and lured Haile to a public area for oral sex. Haile was arrested for attempting an unlawful transaction with a minor.

Being a friend of Robbie's, I was shocked. I had no idea that he had these kinds of issues. I was forced to ask myself why, why had he done this. As I talked with my other friends in Louisville we tried to figure it out. Robbie never seemed like a predator or pedophile, and yet here he was being portrayed as this horrible monster on the news. This left us with two options, either he was in fact sick and needed help, or he was simply the product of a society which sexualizes young girls to the point that men see them as sexual objects, rather than the children they are.

Soccer Coach

Haile was free on a $25,000 bond and was due back in court for his arraignment July 14^th. Haile had also been a long time soccer coach at Mockingbird Valley Soccer club in Louisville and has since be relieved of his position. The soccer club posted this statement on their website, "We are extremely concerned with this situation. Robby Haile's background check revealed one speeding ticket but no other incidents that would be deemed as an inappropriate activity. Effective immediately, Robby Haile is relieved of his duties at Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club and will have no further contact with youth involved in our club. ".

Haile had no prior criminal record.

Media portrayals of girls as sex objects

In 2007 the American Physiological Association published a report consisting of some 300 studies which showed an increasing and alarming trend among media outlets and marketing companies displaying young girls as sexual objects. One such instance was in the 2007 FHM's Hottest 100 list, where five of the 100 women featured were in fact under age eighteen. The report by the APA showed that recent trends have been to market the image of sex to young girls and in fact young girls are seeing themselves as sexualized and treat their own bodies as sexual objects. This leaves little wonder as to why men like Robbie get caught up in this image of sexuality. Unfortunately where childhood and sexuality get blurred, age can often be but a slight deterrent. While the majority of men still see these young girls as simply girls, the fact that they are being sexualized is certainly a cause for concern.

Critics of these views state that the images of girls are empowering and freeing, in a time when a girl can where whatever she wants and be proud of herself. This view is countered however by such instances as the one occurring with my friend Robbie. I am not making excuses for his actions, but merely looking for reasons. The sexualization of young girls potentially puts them in the line of fire for sexual attacks. It is true that pedophilia has occurred for a long time, but when a girl is dressed and portrayed as a woman, then what is left to protect her from the rigors and responsibilities of womanhood? Age? We can hope so.