The concept of the “dirty old man” preying on underage girls for sex is a phenomenon that has so faded and become so normalized that a Jamaican civil society organization has launched a campaign against this horrible practice. This was the message from Eve for Life’s Joy Crawford at an event yesterday
“Nuh Guh Deh” (patois roughly translated to ‘leave it alone’) was launched yesterday by Eve for Life, a Jamaican NGO that aims to create a safe space for girl children and women affected by HIV/AIDS.
(Statistics show that women account for 42 per cent of cases in Jamaica. In the age group 15 to 24 years old, infected women more than double the number of men.)
The technical term is ‘transactional sex’ or ‘cross-generational sex’ and occurs in situations in which older men such as a neighbour, taxi driver or bus driver solicit sex from underage girls in exchange for money or protection. Needless to say, this is a harmful practice for these girls, who are often vulnerable financially, emotionally and physically. In fact, the phenomenon is contributing to increasing HIV rates among girls aged 10-19.
“This campaign is intended to change hearts and attitudes among men and women,” said moderator, blogger and Eve for Life board member Emma Lewis. “We must nourish, nurture and protect our young people,” she said.
According to Eve for Life’s statistics from the Ministry of Health, transactional sex is increasing such that 43 per cent of people aged 15-24 reported being involved in the activity in 2012, up from 39 per cent in 2008. More disturbingly, 20 per cent of girls report that their first sexual encounter was forced, 18 per cent of pregnancies now occur among girls aged up to 19 and HIV infection is now three times higher among girls aged 10-19 than boys the same age.
Less tangibly, the effects of this type of sexual encounter include health risks such as HIV, pregnancy, halting of education and opportunities, all of which condemn girls to a life of poverty and dependency.
Jamaica’s Office of the Children’s Registry (which receives reports of child abuse), recorded 2,300 instances so far in 2012, said OCR’s Greig Smith. “Big man, big woman, leave pickney dem alone. Nuh guh deh!” he added.
Mrs. Marion Scott of the National Family Planning Board of Jamaica called unequivocally on people to “protect the girl child from the cradle robber so that we must give her fair chance at personal development.” Mrs. Scott also noted some disturbing trends, including an increase in multiple partnerships, and a decrease in condom use because of the inherent power struggle, which occurs because the older man automatically has the power as he has the money. As a result, the young pregnant girl is left with the burden and no education and no employment opportunities so she is forced into this unhealthy relationship.
The crowd also heard from a young woman named Nickeisha, who before she turned 17, engaged in a relationship with an older man. Scarred emotionally, she became pregnant but with the help of Eve For Life, managed to escape the trappings of the situation such that she is now an advocate against it. “As someone who has experienced abuse I feel it is my responsibility to say NUH GUH DEH!” Nickeisha said.
Unicef Jamaica’s Deirdre Kiernan (which has provided support to Eve For Life) also spoke at the event, expanding on the reality that underage girls (in Jamaica, the age of consent is 16) are not equipped for sexual activity with older men.
“It is NEVER ok for young girls to have sex with older men,” said Kiernan. “Most girls who have sex with older men not ready and not able to negotiate condom use,” she added.
After hearing some heart-wrenching readings from a 16-year-old’s writings about being sexually abused, the Kriativ Aktivis Randy McLaren and NoMaddz’ Sheldon Shepherd performed. Both did creative rendition of the poetry of Eve For Life’s Joy Crawford.
The launch of the campaign also precedes a series of “community chats” around the island, which will aim to open the dialogue on this phenomenon.
I will leave you with an excerpt of Miss Crawford’s poem, Nuh Guh Deh:
“Now a days Big man pon baby, big man pon toddler, big man pon young girl
A still cradle snatcher, cradle robber, cradle snatcher, cradle robber
We must taunt dem, mek wi haunt dem,
Tell dem nuh guh deh, nuh guh deh, nuh guh deh, nuh guh deh.”
Jamaican Journal 
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Good write up, but one comment: I wouldn’t say the “technical term” is “‘transactional sex’ or ‘cross-generational sex’”. The technical term is statutory rape or sexual abuse. Anything else is a euphemism that extends the normalization of what is, under Jamaican law, a crime. It’s not a “harmful practice”. It’s abuse and it is illegal.
Thank you for this important clarification.
I disagree. The term used by Ministry of Health etc. is transactional sex and cross-generational sex. They are not euphemisms, they have specific meanings referring to sex in exchange for money or some benefit; and sex between people of different generations. You are using the legal term by which people can be prosecuted. We are defining different types of sexual relationships, which can be prosecuted as rape or carnal abuse if it is with a person under the age of consent.
Emma, it’s not about a choice between terms. It is about using both. My statement was based on my research. In focus groups and among organizations working with young women–including Eve for Life–there was a large sense that in Jamaica there is a resistance to actually referring to these relationships between older men and girl children as sexual abuse–even at the Ministry of Health! I am well aware of the meanings of transactional sex and cross generational sex. In other countries there are no laws regarding statutory rape (many of the countries that are mentioned in the pieces you posted no twitter). In Jamaica, these laws actually exist and are rarely, if ever, prosecuted. It’s a huge problem. Avoiding the use of the term rape when it actually is rape does normalize the practice. I think the goal should be to use ALL the terms–don’t separate the two and when it’s rape, call it rape. When it is sexual abuse, call it sexual abuse. I don’t think we disagree here.
We live in such a desensitized world, any effort to make people consider the harm being done to the vulnerable in our society is laudable. Too many people make a choice to turn away, not to hear or to think about it. “It’s too upsetting” they cry. How nice to have that choice.
You are right, it is a choice to turn away or not. I think this campaign will sensitize people without pushing them away. Thanks for reading!
Reblogged this on Petchary's Blog and commented:
Yesterday’s launch of Eve for Life’s “Nuh Guh Deh” campaign was really successful. Partners and supporters joined us and while the mood was upbeat, our hearts were touched. We have much food for thought, and much work to do! Here is journalist/writer and Cuso volunteer Kate Chappell’s account (Kate also live-tweeted from the event).
As always, thanks Emma!
I can’t see where to reblog this, but am going to attempt to do so now! This is a great summary of the event. We do hope that the message will go out, loud and clear.