Writer of Coming Out and a lecturer of gender and sexuality studies
The dismantlement of a closed Facebook group named Official Candy’s Club by the Jakarta Police unearthed the terrifying existence of an enormous network of child sexual abuse perpetrators. More than 7,000 members shared photos, videos, stories, and even tips on their sexual abuses. Besides the obvious problem, what it is also troubling is the fact that media outlets refer to the perpetrators as “pedophiles”. Defying presumptions that “pedophiles” are “old men”, the arrested perpetrators are underage and in their 20s. What does pedophilia actually mean? When it is applied to this case, where is the confusion? What is the impact of invoking this term if it is considered synonymous with child sexual abuse? Let me be very clear on this point. There is no denying the serious harmful impacts of child sexual abuse. It is imperative ...
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.