I think the age difference is what really sells it. No one seems to care about the power imbalance. Look at Monica Lewinsky. She was an intern to the most powerful man in the country and still to this day people make jokes about her like she was a harlot gold digger and it was consensual so it’s ok.
In the end, the kid was underage and legally couldn’t give consent. So rape is rape simply because of the age. In power dynamics though, the victim can end up being the butt of the joke for the rest of their lives. The culture behind supporting rapists and not holding them accountable perpetuates this no matter the sex of the victim. Here’s a perfect example from SNL
I think the age difference is what really sells it. No one seems to care about the power imbalance. Look at Monica Lewinsky. She was an intern to the most powerful man in the country and still to this day people make jokes about her like she was a harlot gold digger and it was consensual so it’s ok.
https://newuniversity.org/2018/10/29/power-and-consent-the-clinton-lewinsky-affair-was-not-inherently-abusive/
The rapists own wife even insists that since she consented it wasn’t power imbalance.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/clinton-lewinsky-affair-abuse-power-no-says-hillary-yes-say-experts-211422910.html
She was Jay Leno’s favorite target for a year after the assault and the media constantly painted the victim as the bad guy.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/27/monica-lewinsky-says-bill-clinton-affair-was-gross-abuse-of-power
In the end, the kid was underage and legally couldn’t give consent. So rape is rape simply because of the age. In power dynamics though, the victim can end up being the butt of the joke for the rest of their lives. The culture behind supporting rapists and not holding them accountable perpetuates this no matter the sex of the victim. Here’s a perfect example from SNL
https://youtu.be/m6uvv1aS5_I?is=qzfX5Ou4qKZSzmyq