SOCI 2305 | Deviance | Spring 2026
Video Workshop Three: When a moral panic conjures sexual deviance
In the early 1980s Bakersfield, California dozens of adults and over 60 children were alleged to be part of a massive case of child sex abuse. The offenders were all working class parents in the community and the victims were their children. Even more disturbing were allegations that Satanists were performing ritualistic acts of sexual violence on scores of children. The police and the courts earnestly responded. The perpetrators were identified, tried, convicted, and sent to prison for decades – and in some cases for centuries. In the face of such evil, the numerous cases appeared to be open and shut and convictions were more or less quickly secured.
Years later the now grown children recanted their eyewitness testimony and blamed sheriff’s deputies and social workers for pressuring the children to say they had been molested. Of the three dozen convictions, all but two were overturned and those imprisoned were exonerated. Two died in prison and thus could not have their sentences reversed.
How can we make sense of this? Many took this as evidence of sexual deviance run rampant. Many still do today. In retrospect, this is better understood as a moral panic where people became willing to believe outrageous allegations in the absence of credible information. To explore this, we will watch excerpts of the 2009 documentary, Witch Hunt. We will watch excerpts in class from the documentary Monday and Wednesday. I’ve prepared several questions for you to write down your thoughts as we try to make sense of what happened.
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Part one - video shown in-class Monday, March 18
Video link for Part One
Part Two - video shown in-class Wednesday, March 20
Video links for Part Two