vivster said:
Sometimes I don't want to live in a world where people equate pedophilia with ephebophilia, only one of which is a mental disorder or paraphilia. |
The age groups I listed are the ones specifically listed to separate it from Hebephilia, which are generally kids between the ages of 11-14. The number, as you say, is not what matters. For the former group, it's those underage kids who have largely developed the bodies of adults, and people attracted to them are mostly also attracted to adults. For the latter group, it's the attraction to kids who have only just reached puberty, and it is distinct in that it has been found that men who are attracted to this group are more likely than not to focus on this age group, holding no attraction for adults.
For this reason it's a distinction that's only been made recently as, while the ephebophilia group are fairly common and are attracted to these minors because they look like fairly well developed adults (i.e. it's the adult in them that they like), the latter like the childlike qualities of the younger group. Hebephilia isn't pedophilia, then, but as it is a preference for kids who still retain many childlike attributes and those of this group frequently have no interest for anyone older, it was decided to make the distinction between them and ephebophilia as, in most countries, their interests are considered an illness and to act on them is often a serious crime.
As I mentioned, which attractions constitute an illness or crime vary greatly; heck, here in the U.S. they vary by state. I believe here in Florida I heard a 14 year old can date and sleep with anyone up to 24 years old, whereas I know a man from Alabama who was charged with statutory rape back in the 70's for having consensual sex with his 17 year old girlfriend while being 18 himself.
That said, with the Hebephiliac's preference for kids generally between the age of 11 and 15, and their more-frequent-than-not inability to feel attraction for other fellow adults, theirs is a dangerous focus to have and, in my opinion, they really ought to seek out therapy if it develops into an obsession. Relationships with kids that age (with a full grown adult) are not infrequently tremendously scarring psychologically for the kids, and there's few countries where this isn't a serious crime. That's why I'm not a fan of the sexualizing of kids in games and art, and why I specifically mentioned ephebophilia as opposed to Hebephilia.
Also, I won't speak much into this but I do find many of these portrayals to be cheating the system by simply stating the character is some higher age while drawing them as if they were far, far younger. I've noticed many characters in games and anime are given signs of adulthood like large breasts, but then they're given the size and face of a young child and dressed in outfits that would make your average Brazilian blush. I'm not sure what to make of those, but they very much walk that line I mentioned between ephebophilia and Hebephilia. Simply saying an obvious kid is "15" or older doesn't seem right.
