‘So, the Moral Is

Do Not Take Nude Pictures’: Paternalism, Discrimination and Negative Social Sanctions

Bibliographic Data

ID20142946
AuthorsViki Møller Lyngby Pedersen (0000-0001-9761-6546, Centre for the Experimental‐Philosophical Study of Discrimination, Department of Political Science Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark, corresponding author), Mathilde Cecchini (0000-0003-3946-9116, Department of Political Science and Public Management University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark), Lasse Nielsen (0000-0003-3093-4448, Philosophy, The Department of Design, Media and Educational Science University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark)
Year2025
Volume91
Issue6
Publication date2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTheoria (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0040-5825 • E-ISSN: 1755-2567
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/theo.70057
OpenAlexW4415683334
LanguageEN
References cited16

Sometimes, adults with educational roles, for example, teachers or parents, in particular paternalise children from certain groups with the motive of protecting them from unjustified social sanctions. This paper analyses a case where a teacher seeks to prevent girls, not boys, from sharing intimate pictures of themselves. We argue that the case represents an example of the broader phenomenon of paternalistic discrimination . Based on an analysis of the case, we identify three ways in which paternalistic discrimination protecting people (including children) against negative and unjustified social sanctions can be wrong. Specifically, we argue that the teacher's action involves (i) disrespectful assignment of burden of responsibility, (ii) differential paternalistic disrespect and (iii) disrespectful generalisations. While paternalism towards children is often considered to be uncontroversial, paternalistic discrimination protecting children against unjustified social sanctions is not. At least, we submit that the three wrong‐making features should be included in the evaluation of specific acts of this kind

Action (physics) · Face (sociological concept) · Paternalism · Phenomenon · Sanctions · Social issues · Children's Rights and Participation · Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies · Political Philosophy and Ethics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access