Does pedophilia count as sexual abuse?

Questions and discussion about sexual or other abuse or assault, and support and help for survivors.
Forum rules
This area of the boards is expressly for support and help for those who are currently in or have survived abuse or assault. It is also for those seeking information or discussion about abuse or assault. Please make every effort in this space to be supportive and sensitive. Posts in this area may or do describe abuse or assault explicitly.

This area of the boards is also not an area where those who are themselves abusing anyone or who have abused or assaulted someone may post about doing that or seek support. We are not qualified to provide that kind of help, and that also would make a space like this feel profoundly unsafe for those who are being or who have been abused. If you have both been abused and are abusing, we can only discuss harm done to you: we cannot discuss you yourself doing harm to others. If you are someone engaging in abuse who would like help, you can start by seeking out a mental healthcare provider.
IAmScared
not a newbie
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:29 pm
Age: 29
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Location: Croatia

Does pedophilia count as sexual abuse?

Unread post by IAmScared »

Hello.How are you?

My question is in the title.
Heather
scarleteen founder & director
Posts: 9540
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 11:43 am
Age: 54
Awesomeness Quotient: I have been a sex educator for over 25 years!
Primary language: english
Pronouns: they/them
Sexual identity: queery-queer-queer
Location: Chicago

Re: Does pedophilia count as sexual abuse?

Unread post by Heather »

Pedophilia is a term that describes a feeling, not an action. It describes a feeling of sexual attraction to a pre-pubescent child on the part of an adult. It does NOT describe anyone doing anything with those feelings. So, no.

Feelings can't be abuses, because feelings are what is just inside one person, and aren't about anything someone does: abuses are about actions, about things that can have impact on other people.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
IAmScared
not a newbie
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:29 pm
Age: 29
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Location: Croatia

Re: Does pedophilia count as sexual abuse?

Unread post by IAmScared »

What about pedophilia when an adult man has sex with a child? Is that then sexual abuse?
Sam W
scarleteen staff/volunteer
Posts: 9873
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:06 am
Age: 33
Awesomeness Quotient: I raise carnivorous plants
Primary language: english
Pronouns: she/her
Sexual identity: queer
Location: Desert

Re: Does pedophilia count as sexual abuse?

Unread post by Sam W »

If an adult engages in sexual behavior with someone under the legal age of consent, that is considered sexual assault, which is a sexual abuse. Pedophilia, again, is a word that only describes feelings, not actions.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post