Do people who fetishize children hold us back?

[senseless]

I feel that there is two types of "pedophiles", the first type is the one that experiences a sexual and emotional attraction to children, even when they're not sexually aroused, they still admire children, whilst the second type simply jerks off to the child's body, then has zero interest once their libido is gone.

I think a good comparison for this would be actual transgender people, and cisgender people with a "sissy" fetish.

I am not at all demonizing or criticizing people for their fetishes, but i was wondering if we should consider these people as "MAPs".

I feel that the second type of "pedophile" tend to be the more apathetic ones, since they don't exactly care much for children outside of when they're jerking off.

What do you think?

[bnkywuv]

Agreed!

[Scorchingwilde]

I think there's a distinction to be made between only feeling sexual attraction towards children but not an emotional connection and straight up disregard and objectification. Some people who are sexually attracted to adults don't feel romantic attraction towards them, and they're capable of having respect and/or platonic love for people they have sex with (allosexual and aromantic is the term). I'm somewhere on that spectrum myself, meanwhile I'm pretty sure there are some MAPs who can feel romantic love but in an abusive and possessive way, or who are nonexclusive and really only treat adults they're with as full people

[OnionPetal]

I think there's a distinction to be made between only feeling sexual attraction towards children but not an emotional connection and straight up disregard and objectification. [...]

Well said.

Anyone who reduces a child to an 'object' to be 'used' is not doing MAP activism any favours. MAP activism should be driven and led by people who truly care about children. But keep in mind that the spectrum of emotional versus sexual attraction can be different for each person. Just because someone isn't interested in the 'romantic relationship' aspect of child love, doesn't mean that they aren't still affected by totally unjust laws (e.g., around prohibited media) and discriminatory treatment. As long as activists respect and prioritise the autonomy of children, then the exact nature of their attraction seems extraneous.