Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Incest, Bestiality, and Pedophilia... Oh My!

So let's talk a bit about the three mentioned above, as it seems that Rick Santorum (among others) think that the above are the reasons, the "slippery slope," as it were, that gay marriage should never be legal, as it will eventually lead to those above becoming legal. Or, as one blogger I read put it, "Once you accept one sexual deviancy, you accept them all." Yes, reader, I, too Guphaw'd at this, but be that as it may, we must refute the idiocy if the idiocy is ever to learn. Apparently, some straight people think that since they figured out how some of their tabs and slots fit together, they own the market on "non-deviant" sexual relations. So to refute the hair-brained ideology, let's begin, shall we?


1. Incest:
Defined: Etymology: Middle English, from Latin incestuous sexual impurity, from incestuous impure, from in- + castus pure -- more at CASTE
: sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry; also : the statutory crime of such a relationship
Problem: Sexual contact between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal (e.g., parents and children, uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews, etc.). This usually takes the form of an older family member sexually abusing a child or adolescent.
Incest is considered by many experts to be a particularly damaging form of sexual abuse because it is perpetrated by individuals whom the victim trusts and depends upon. In addition, support can also be lacking and pressure to keep silent powerful as fear of the family breaking up can be overwhelming to other family members.
Exceptions: There are, however, different cultural expectations and rules about incest. For instance, in some areas of the Arab world and southern India it is estimated that as many as 50% of marriages occur between first cousins. In addition, in southern India it is still common to see a maternal uncle (the mother's brother) marry the first daughter.
My Thoughts: First off, huge ick factor. But I feel as long as they are both consenting adults and acknowledge the facts that children may be damaged emotionally or mentally, I don't see any reason why two consenting adults can't engage in a long-term, sexual relationship. Although I think sharing in-laws could be creepier when you are all actually related... But again, eww!
References:


2. Bestiality:
Defined: Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
1 : the condition or status of a lower animal
2 : display or gratification of bestial traits or impulses
3 : sexual relations between a human being and a lower animal
Problem: Um, not even the same species? Abuse of animals? Eww!
Exceptions: You'd have to move to Sweden, Belgium, or the Netherlands to practice bestiality legally... sick Europeans...
My Thoughts: Again, the ick factor is out of this world. One blogger (who shall remain slightly anonymous (i.e., I won't say who, but he is linked on this page somewhere...) said "Why would you need the consent of an animal to have sex but not to eat?" Silly argument, but I will answer. While I do enjoy the occasional steak dinner (medium rare), at least I am not repeatedly assaulting the animal while it is still alive. It's a quick, it's over, and hopefully done as humanly as possible (sorry, Ergo! I know how you feel about the term "humanely" when referring to animals! [Ergo is not the individual with the silly argument, FYI]). Sex, however? It's abuse, torture, and it happens over and over again, not like killing for food. In fact, quite a bit different. If this makes me some type of hypocrite, so be it. And while I'm sure you can train an animal to enjoy being raped (much like you can train an dolphin to do a triple somersault through a burning hoop), you certainly wouldn't see either being performed in the natural environment. Most animals experience a tearing of their "areas" and bleeding, as, and I would think this would be common sense, some tabs were not meant to fit in some slots.
References:


3. Pedophilia:
Defined: Etymology: New Latin
: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
Problem: Impact of Child Sexual Abuse
  • It is estimated that there are 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in America today.
  • Approximately 95% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.
  • Long term effects of child abuse include fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor self esteem, tendency toward substance abuse and difficulty with close relationships.
  • Clinical findings of adult victims of sexual abuse include problems in interpersonal relationships associated with an underlying mistrust. Generally, adult victims of incest have a severely strained relationship with their parents that is marked by feelings of mistrust, fear, ambivalence, hatred, and betrayal. These feelings may extend to all family members.
  • Sexual victimization may profoundly interfere with and alter the development of attitudes toward self, sexuality, and trusting relationships during the critical early years of development.
  • There is the clinical assumption that children who feel compelled to keep sexual abuse a secret suffer greater psychic distress than victims who disclose the secret and receive assistance and support.
  • Adolescents with a history of sexual abuse are significantly more likely than their counterparts to engage in sexual behavior that puts them at risk for HIV infection
  • Young girls who are forced to have sex are three times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders or abuse alcohol and drugs in adulthood, than girls who are not sexually abused.
  • Among both adolescent girls and boys, a history of sexual or physical abuse appears to increase the risk of disordered eating behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives to avoid gaining weight.
And that's just scratching the surface! Did you also know that 95%--95%--of all sexual crimes against children are committed by someone the child knows and trusts!!! 80% of the time it's a direct relative!!! (i.e., father, uncle...) And despite all all of that-- A CHILD DOESN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE OR MATURITY TO GIVE CONSENT. And, 92% of all men that commit pedophilia identify as STRAIGHT. Heterosexual. Gender of a child also has nothing to do with anything. Pedophilia is all about control and power, never gender.
Exceptions: None.
My Thoughts: I think I pretty much covered that. But let me just say, as a gay man, not only am I not more likely to commit pedophilia, I want a MAN. Not a boy or a girl. A MAN.
References:
Okay, after all that, what have we deduced? There is a line, fundies and ignoramus's... The line between consenting adults and children and animals which
  1. Cannot give consent
  2. Experience much physical and psychological harm
  3. Are usually not willing participants
Now, you may argue, what about polygamy? Consenting Adults.

My philosophy? You have the right to a consensual, adult relationship as long as it harms no one and doesn't infringe on someone else's right to life and liberty. How hard is that to fathom?

Sorry this got to be such a long post, but hey, someone had to say it, right?

6 comments:

Bill said...

Very good post.

I do have to argue with one point you make on pedophilia. You note that "Approximately 95% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused." That should be 100%. Teenage prostitution by definition is a form of abuse, because a teenager is not a consenting "Adult."

Dar said...

Well said, Jason. More people need to know the difference.

Check out what The Atheist Ethicist has to say...very good articles about this subject.

Pete Deichmann said...

There is nothing wrong with long, as long as it is well said, and that was!

Weird

Darkmind said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

you've talked about consenting adults(regarding incest), everyone does.
What about a consenting child(11 yrs) and an adult? Would it be fine if I and mom would have sex(morally/legally)?

Jason Hughes said...

Not only would that be morally wrong (as you well know), an 11 yr old is not mature enough to consent to such a thing, which is why your mother would still be prosecuted under pedophilia and child abuse. My 5 yr old nioece wants a pony--is she mature enough to realize what kind of reposnibility she would be taking on? Does she realize the emotions, mental physical and emotional issues that would come with owning such an animal, the time and money? Neither does an 11 yr old when it comes to sex. Even if a child thinks he/she is mature enough to make that kind of decision (which they aren't no matter how street-wise they think they are), the emotional and mental ramifications will haunt that child, and the mother (or other adult) should be ashamed for taking advantage of the naivete and apparent distress the child is under to evene consider doing so. Read the post again. I've addressed these issues, but you apparently haven't absorbed all of the info provided or you wouldn't ask such a silly question. Either that, or you're just trying to be argumentative, which is fine, as long as you learn something.