Information AboutEphebophilia |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT EPHEBOPHILIA | |
| adolescence | |
| paraphilia | |
| sexuality and age | |
| pederasty | |
| youth | |
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, 5th c. BCE by the Briseis painter. Louvre ]] Ephebophilia has been variously defined as a ''sexual preference'' in which an adult is primarily or exclusively sexually attracted to postpubescent Adolescents ; that same preference limited to men who are sexually attracted to adolescent boys; or a ''criminal behavior'' consisting of Sexual Abuse of pubescent or post-pubescent minors. It comes from the Greek έφηβος ''( Ephebos )'' variously defined as "one arrived at puberty", "a youth of 18 who underwent his ''dokimasia'' and was registered as a citizen (Athens)," and "arriving at man's estate;" and φιλία ''(philia)'' "love/friendship" {Link without Title} . TERMINOLOGY ''Ephebophilia'', as most strictly defined, refers only to an ''attraction'', not to sexual activity (although sexual activity can be involved). It is used in contrast with '' Pedophilia '', which is an attraction to ''pre-'' Pubescent individuals. In more casual usage, however, ''pedophilia'' is often used more broadly in the Western World , to describe an attraction to any person younger than the legal Age Of Consent . For example the term "pedophile priests" is frequently used instead of " Pederastic priests", in the context of the Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandal , although much of the sexual behavior involved was with adolescent (i.e. post-pubescent) teens.
CHARACTERISTICS
's '' Lolita '']] :Others argue that a consistent preference for adolescents is merely normal attraction to individuals at or near the peak of their sexual capability, and reflects a biologically "normal" reproductive strategy (in contrast to a preference for pre-pubescents, which does not and is therefore pathological). Sociobiological research shows that Primate males tend to prefer young females of reproductive age. For example, a study on human male preferences showed that males from the age of 7 years and up tended to prefer the faces of 17-year-old girls over those of other ages. (''See Sexual Attraction Of Men ''.)
LEGALITY While ephebophilic desire is not regulated by any statute, aspects of sexually expressed ephebophilia may be against some laws. Depending on the Age Of Consent in a given jurisdiction, an adolescent may be capable of giving legally-recognised consent to sexual activity. If the younger partner is below that age, it is commonly criminalised as Statutory Rape , regardless of whether the younger partner agrees to - or even initiates - the activity. Reasons given for this include:
Relationships between adults and adolescents that do not include sexual activity are generally legal, assuming no other laws regarding Child Welfare are violated. For example, a romantic relationship with an adolescent below the age of consent is generally legal, especially when the adolescent's age is above the age at which their parents could Consent To Marriage . In other jurisdictions, this may be illegal. In Canada the age of consent is 14, making much ephebophile sexual expression legal. Although the age is higher (18) for Anal Intercourse in most provinces, in Ontario and Quebec this distinction has been struck down in case law. CULTURE NORMS In Japan ese society, the attraction towards young girls is a widespread cultural phenomenon. The manifestations of such attraction, such as Lolicon art and School Uniform fetishes, are more tolerated than in the West, though Child Pornography is illegal all over Asia . SEE ALSO
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