More of that goose/gander broth comparison...

It's also possible that she only got pregnant at 12 because she reached sexual maturity then, but that she had been, um, receiving attention for longer than that.

Definitely -- however...

Tell you what: you can call her a slut if I can call the male(s) by an even more appropriate name: rapist.

As I mentioned below to Scott (who stands defiant regardless), there is hardly enough data in the piece to know what really happened. I would have a tough time calling a 12-year-old boy who happened to reach sexual maturity a rapist, just because he thought it would be cool if he and his 12-year-old neighbor had a little fun -- and she got pregnant. Or maybe it was an older boy of 15-16 who started the mess.

Probably not at all what happened, but then we still don't know.

I do agree with the rest, though. Self-esteem is difficult to hold onto at any kid's age, and requires an adult’s nurturing, but becomes sure impossibility if never given the chance to even sprout.

Dan