Scholarly pedophilia

There is a classic essay by Gayle Rubin in which she argues that sex is first to be stigmatized. As she proceeds, she ends up defending the National Man-Boy Love Association (yes, really, and yes, this was a thing) at length.^[1] According to Wikipedia, this essay is widely considered a foundational essay for the fields of gay and lesbian studies, sexuality studies, and queer theory.^[2]

Now we have the case of Allyn Walker, a professor at Old Dominion University who has argued that pedophiles should instead be referred to as “minor-attracted persons.” Arguing that pedophiles cannot control their attractions, Walker believes that moral culpability should not apply unless and until these “minor-attracted persons” act on their attractions. Walker has now resigned their post following an entirely predictable uproar.^[3] I’m pretty sure some conservatives would say they told us so.

One problem with Walker’s argument is fundamentally the same as one with Rubin’s: They both take their argument too far and, in so doing, jeopardize their premises; because when an implication is true, if we accept the antecedent, the ‘if’ part, we must accept the consequent, the ‘then’ part.

Rubin’s premise is that sex is often presumptively and unjustly accused. Walker’s premise is that stigma should only apply when an offense has actually been committed. I accept both these premises and on both these scholars’ narrow constructions, their arguments appear logically valid. So by implication, I should accept that pedophilia should not provoke what appears to be an irrational moral indignation.

Rubin’s logic^[4] fails entirely and fatally to account for impairments in a child’s ability to consent in the reality where adults possess considerable power over children. Walker’s logic^[5] fails to consider that pedophiles suffer a recognized disorder for which treatment may be possible.^[6] The morality, it turns out, exists for entirely rational reasons.

I am glad that Walker has resigned. I hope that both Walker and Rubin will recant.

1. ^[1]Gayle Rubin, &ldqo;Thinking Sex,” in Carole S. Vance, ed., Pleasure and Danger (Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1984).↩
2. ^[2]Wikipedia, s.v. “Gayle S. Rubin,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayle_Rubin↩
3. ^[3]New Zealand Herald, “Professor resigns following backlash to plea for paedophile’s rights,” November 25, 2021, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/professor-resigns-following-backlash-to-plea-for-paedophiles-rights/X4V3CMLSFRRHOW37YJML42KMWQ/↩
4. ^[4]Gayle Rubin, &ldqo;Thinking Sex,” in Carole S. Vance, ed., Pleasure and Danger (Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1984).↩
5. ^[5]New Zealand Herald, “Professor resigns following backlash to plea for paedophile’s rights,” November 25, 2021, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/professor-resigns-following-backlash-to-plea-for-paedophiles-rights/X4V3CMLSFRRHOW37YJML42KMWQ/↩
6. ^[6]George R. Brown, “Pedophilic Disorder,” Merck Manual, April 2021, https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/paraphilic-disorders/pedophilic-disorder↩