In her article, "What Is a Pedophile?" writer Sharon Begley correctly defines pedophilia.  But she also goes beyond that definition, implying that pedophiles are unsuccessful as human beings by writing that they live alone, "fear" adult sexuality and relationships, and are typically unemployed or in low-paying jobs.  Of course, we should not be surprised that people who are not romantically attracted to adults tend to shun adult romantic relationships and remain single.  One could similarly say that gay men fear relationships with women and female sexuality. 

However, we might be surprised at the allegation that pedophiles cannot hold down a decent job.  Apparently Begley got her information from studies of prison or clinical samples which are well-known to be unrepresentative and misleading.  One of the few studies of non-clinical samples found that a higher proportion were in professional careers than in the general population, and very few had a poor employment history.  In fact, in their article, "The Web's Dark Secret," Begley's own colleagues Rod Nordland and Jeffrey Bartholet describe the typical pedophile as "well educated, with no criminal record."

Begley also writes that pedophiles' sexual desires "remain shrouded in the mists of their childhoods and psychopathology."  This is where she begins to sound like the writers 50 years ago.  Her opinion is not supported by research.  Forensic sexologist Ray Blanchard agrees that the cause of pedophilia is unknown, but he points out that the same is true in the cases of normal heterosexuality and homosexuality.  Furthermore, personality studies of non-clinical samples have found that most pedophiles show no sign of clinically significant psychopathy.  Studies do, however, consistently confirm Begley's statement that pedophiles tend to be more shy and introverted than average.  They even suggest that pedophiles are more sensitive and sexually inhibited than average.  This should be welcome news, and should have been reported.

But the parts of the Newsweek articles that contradict reality most severely and create monstrous images are those that describe the behavior of pedophiles.  Begley correctly points out the "crucial distinction" between pedophiles and child sex abusers.  Certainly there are pedophiles who molest children and a very small number who commit brutality.  However, most readers of Paraklesis know that there are large numbers of pedophiles who sublimate their sexual feelings and remain celibate.  Although pedophiles do not choose their sexual feelings, they do choose how they will behave.  We know of pedophiles who are working together with others to understand pedophilia and to promote responsible behavior.  Most of these efforts are on-line since current social attitudes and legal measures prevent even celibate, responsible pedophiles from revealing their identities.

However, Begley forgets her own "crucial distinction" and makes the self-contradictory statement that pedophiles "often seek out nonsexual contact with children, and even believe that their gropings cause no damage."  She continues to imply all pedophiles are sex offenders by stating that pedophiles find a release in having sex with children (reminiscent of the old beliefs about "sex fiends"). 

Begley's "crucial distinction" is also ignored by Nordland and Bartholet, who portray all pedophiles as vicious predators "without moral boundaries."  They describe pedophiles routinely "snatching little girls off the street" and from slumber parties, and passing "abused boys around among them."  They tell of the "torture, bondage, beatings, brutal and forcible rape" of "children as young as toddlers and infants."  They present the "notorious Belgian pedophile Marc Dutroux," who placed children in dungeons and raped them, as typical of all pedophiles.  The old image of the monstrous "sex fiend" is perpetuated.

Again, research clearly refutes this image.  Studies have led scientists Glenn Wilson and David Cox to conclude that the majority of pedophiles are "gentle and rational."  Aside from those pedophiles who remain celibate, non-clinical studies of man-boy sexual interaction (e.g., those by Wilson & Cox and Savin-Williams) reveal sexually active teens who have chosen to become involved with adults.  A careful study of child pornography published by the Institute for Psychological Therapies showed that the use of very young children, violence, and coercion are extremely rare. By contrast, the Newsweek article capitalizes on the small number of extreme cases such as Marc Dutroux, whose actions should rightly be condemned.  It would be just as accurate to hold up Ted Bundy as an example of normal heterosexuality.  This is not to justify adult-minor sex or underage pornography, but simply to point out that it is one thing to say that such behavior is harmful and immoral; it is quite another to mislead the public about what it involves, and to portray those who do it as inhuman brutes.

The Newsweek report does briefly mention a study supervised by child sexual abuse researcher David Finkelhor, which the careful reader might  notice pokes holes in the image of pedophiles as predators.  The study found that many of those who solicit sex online from teenagers do not fit "the image of the sexual predator or wily child molester," but are rather "other youth and younger adults and even some women...A lot of it looks and sounds like the hallways of our high schools."  One wonders why the reporters imply that in these cases, teenagers are naturally sexual, that those who seduce them are not predatory even when they are young adults or older women, and that the sexual behavior is not to be condemned, but when a man is involved, he becomes a subhuman predator, and the teenager becomes an unknowing child unable to resist his "grooming."