My fear for our children and teens

[Enbyfictionwriter]

This has been on my mind lately, but the thread about fears for the map community made me want to post about it.

How many people do you think are somewhere on the MAP continuum in our world? It’s probably more than we think.

As I do more and more research, and connect with folks, it is apparent that these feelings emerge during childhood. Maybe as young as 10-12, or maybe even younger!

How many teens are suffering with this right now in silence? I know I did. How many will we lose to suicide?

Most importantly, what can we do to help?

[PorcelainLark]

It is estimated that from one in five to most men exhibit some attraction to children or pubescent adolescents (Goode, 2010, pp. 19-20; Blanchard, 2012), and that for 0.5% to 5% of all males, this attraction is preferential (Abel & Harlow, 2001; Farella, 2002; Feierman, 1990; West, 1998). Minor attraction in females is not well-researched, but what few studies have been done generally conclude a lower prevalence. This lower prevalence has been attributed to a number of factors — for instance, the general tendency of women to prefer older partners (Pedersen, 2017; Joyal, Cossette, & Lapierre, 2015; Smiljanich & Briere, 1996).

https://www.b4uact.org/know-the-facts/prevalence/

If the 1 in 5 estimation is correct and consistent across the global population, that means roughly 820 million males MAPs.

I think the best we can do is to try to make it easier to come out or self-accept. It's hard to find community support if you're afraid of self-identifying as a MAP.

[Fragment]

Unlike gender which, even if not a binary, clusters around two poles, age is totally a spectrum, which can make the definition of "MAP" particularly amorphous.

If we look at the clinical definition of pedophilia, then the numbers seem closer to 1-2%. If we include secondary attraction, and ephebophilia? Then easily in the double digits.

Cherry picking the highest numbers can be of strategic benefit. Gays have done that for a long time. But it shouldn't actually matter if less than 1% of people are MAP, anyway. Trans rights aren't being won on the basis of numbers.

[PorcelainLark]

Sorry, usually I prefer to use the more conservative estimates. I was tired.

The lower estimate (0.5% of the male population) would be 20.7 million people. That's still pretty big; it's bigger than the population of Chile. Maybe a country for MAPs isn't that bad of an idea.

[FairBlueLove]

Maybe a country for MAPs isn't that bad of an idea.

Many times (not always!) things in nature are like that for a functional reason, as a result of complex dynamics. I espouse the idea that child lovers exist for a functional reason too. Bunching them in a single nation would not be a good thing if that's true.
On the other hand, given the present state of affairs (that is, we cannot express ourselves as in a natural world) it would probably not make a big difference.

Regarding the main topic, I totally feel you Enbyfictionwriter. A poster that I prepared (not yet posted because I'm not yet happy with it) would be spot on: https://forum.map-union.org/viewtopic.php?t=1799

[PorcelainLark]

Many times (not always!) things in nature are like that for a functional reason, as a result of complex dynamics. I espouse the idea that child lovers exist for a functional reason too. Bunching them in a single nation would not be a good thing if that's true.
On the other hand, given the present state of affairs (that is, we cannot express ourselves as in a natural world) it would probably not make a big difference.

It might make society worse, but I was thinking in terms of making MAPs lives easier. I know it's still just a pipe dream, but with that many people it feels like less of a pipe dream than I originally thought.