to Richard Yuill's dissertation
2 December 2004
Williams, Martin,
Controversy surrounds
university thesis on paedophilia; The Herald, UK.
A SCOTTISH
university was last night embroiled in a new row over a student whose thesis
challenges the law on sex abuse after he was awarded a PhD.
Richard Yuill, who received his doctorate in sociology from Glasgow University
at a graduation ceremony yesterday, said his research into relationships between
adults and children under 16 countered the "dominant view" that they
were unacceptable, and raised questions about the legal age of consent. He said
those interviewed had had both positive and negative experiences.
2 December 2004
Taylor, Matthew, Paedophilia thesis comes under
fire; Doctorate could justify child sex, say abuse experts; The Guardian.
An academic awarded a doctorate by Glasgow University for his thesis which
described sex between adults and children as sometimes positive was criticised
last night by child abuse experts.
Richard Yuill said his research, based on interviews with paedophiles and their
victims, "challenged the assumption" that sexual relations between
adults and under-16s were inherently abusive.
3 December 2004
CHILD SEX
ACADEMIC HITS BACK; Daily Record (Scotland tabloid) Dec 3 2004.
A RESEARCHER who claimed not all
sex between adults and under-16s is abusive defended his work yesterday. As
Richard Yuill was awarded his PhD from Glasgow University, he attacked criticism
of his thesis from child protection groups.
4 December 2004
Baty, Phil, Fury over PhD for
child-sex research; Times Higher Education
Supplement.
A row has erupted over Glasgow University's decision to award a doctorate for a
thesis that describes "positive" experiences of sex between children
and adults based on interviews with paedophiles and their victims.
Richard Yuill received his doctorate this week for research that he said
"challenges the assumption" that all sexual relationships between
adults and children under the age of 16 are inherently abusive.
4 December 2004
Yuill, Richard, Answering
back; THES
When I began my PhD at Glasgow University in 1999, I appreciated that the
"reality" of researching male age-discrepant/intergenerational
sexualities and relationships would likely prove a hotly contested topic. But I
did not anticipate that my mother and I would be subjected to offensive
phone-calls; two lengthy Senate investigations; having sensitive material stolen
from my office and passed on to a journalist; explaining my research to officers
from the Serious Crime Squad; the News of the World taking a photo of me inside
our house; and, finally, a series of ill-informed political attacks.
4 December 2004
Baty, Phil, Child
sex researcher had ban on his record; Times Higher Education Supplement
"It was Richard Yuill's decision to have his thesis withheld. This is
certainly not an unusual request as dissertations are often withheld for various
reasons such as patenting/intellectual property issues.
4 December 2004
Leapman, Peter, Say what you mean; [letter to] Times
Educational Supplement
Richard Yuill's right to advance heretical ideas about paedophilia ought to be
defended