#fandom problem 3937

[damnfandomproblems]

It alarms me how the term “pedophile” and “pedophilia” have been watered down as just an insult to people who enjoy specific content in fiction.

No, pedophilia is not when a character who is in their 30’s is dating someone who is in their 50’s. (Not to be specific here, but I’ll let you guys guess)

No, pedophilia is not when someone is attracted to a short female character.

No, pedophilia is not when a petite female character is sexualized.

No, pedophilia is not when an adult cosplayer cosplays as a fictional underage character.

And NO, pedophilia is not when an artist/fanfic writer ages up a character who is a minor into an adult.

Pedophilia is when someone is sexually attracted to real life children. Stop using “pedophile” as an insult to someone, it’s not only reckless, it’s not only dangerous, it’s also insulting to real life victims.

[damnfandomproblems]

comment for problem 3937

honestly, people should stop using the term pedophile altogether.

the term is effectively meaningless, a 2006 study determined that only ~35% of the child molesters in their sample fit the diagnosis criterions for pedophilia. And the term itself only refers to the "interest" in prepubescents, it's not a blanket term for an interest in minors.

Can we call child molesters/child predators by what they are, child molesters/child predators.

y' know, instead of calling them by a term who's definition is so blurry now that it could mean anything from someone who experiences the ~feelings~ but choses to not act on them up to someone who's exploited hundreds of children.

Ideally the term "pedophile" should only be used clinically to identify a psychological trait that a patient has so that the professional they're with knows what kind of procedure they need to take in order to prevent an offense from happening again or in the first place.

Posting this since this is a response to a previous problem