The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #161452   Message #3870466
Posted By: Iains
07-Aug-17 - 05:36 PM
Thread Name: BS: Uk Labour Party discussion II
Subject: RE: BS: Uk Labour Party discussion II
The definition of paedophilia is by no means clear cut.

Oxford English dictionary:Sexual feelings directed towards children.

merriam Webster:: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object; specifically : a psychological disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) defines it as a sexual preference for children of prepubertal or early pubertal age.

The onset of puberty varies among individuals. Puberty usually occurs in girls between the ages of 10 and 14, while in boys it generally occurs later, between the ages of 12 and 16.

"There is a massive difference between paedophilia and abuse of post-pubertal but underage boys. Why don't you blokes apprise yourself of the difference?"

I see a problem already here! I recommend a study of the document
Definitions of Paedophilia - UWE Research Repository.(I am afraid my link kept failing when I tried to create it)

The definition of paedophilia varies depending on the dictionary used to define it, whether it is being used in a medical context, or in a legal context. It also varies by country.
It seems to me the inconsistancies that exist make any attempt to define the term rather meaningless. Sentencing generally seems more harsh as the victim becomes younger and the age of the perpetrator gets older. That to me is a far more critical result than using a word that means different things to different people of varying ages.
A prepubertal male could be any age from 12 to16 yet the UK and Ireland Paedophile database uses the following definitions:

    Infantophilia, or Nepiophilia, is used to refer to a sexual preference for infants and toddlers (usually ages 0–3)
    Paedophilia is used for individuals with a primary sexual interest in prepubescent children aged 13 or younger
    Hebephilia is defined as individuals with a primary sexual interest in 12-15 year old pubescents

Surely it is the crime that is the significant fact, not a name given to the perpetrator.

I admit I am totally confused and unable to obtain a consistent catchall descriptor for a paedofile