If a school (8-11) boy hits a girl on her bottom is it a bigger deal than if he does it to another boy ?

It is not about sensitivity or about feminism. It is a matter of respect. An 8-11 year old boy is old enough to learn about what is appropriate and inappropriate. He is at a crucial age that he should have already learned this. I just asked my son who just turned 7 less then a month ago and even he knows that this is something inappropriate to do. His parents should be traumatized at the realization that they have yet to teach their child this. The webistes that you have posted links to do not work so I am unable to see the specific story that you are referring to. But I would ume that the little girl this boy hit on the bottom was about the same age as him. If she felt as though this was inappropriate for him to touch her in such a manner, don't you think that he, at the same age, should know that it is inappropriate to touch her in this manner? I work as a juvenile detention officer and have seen boys as young as 13 come into my facility brought up on charges against other little girls. If this happens at the age of 13 (as I can attest it does), when, may I ask you, do you think is the appropriate time to teach little boys about how incredibly inappropriate it is to touch a girl this way?