Epstein and the Politics of Abuse

Content warning: this blog post covers the subject of sexual assault, of children and in general.

One of the hottest topics recently has been the late Jeffrey Epstein, his many wealthy and powerful associates, and the immense amounts of cruel and unusual abuse they inflicted on untold numbers of minors – as well as adults, though that's been discussed far less. While the true scope of the abuse will likely remain difficult to know for certain, they've thoroughly demonstrated the idea that when it comes to those who make the most extreme accusations, each accusation is a confession.

Obviously, this has also led to an increase in mass outrage against pedophiles, and a resurgence in the idea that there is some association between the right-wing and "pedophilia" (mostly hebephilia, but society doesn't really make that distinction). But this presents an opportunity to clear up misconceptions and direct that outrage where it belongs: to those who believe they have the moral right to take whatever they want from those they consider their lessers. That's right, I mean conservatives.

Minor attraction isn't fundamentally different from gender-based attraction, enshrined as "sexual orientation" despite being only one type of orientation. It's based in biology and development, and has no inherent political affiliation. However, what most beings mean when they say "pedophilia" isn't pedophilia, it's sexual abuse of children. And as relevant research and statistics overwhelmingly show, the majority of sexual abuse of children is perpetrated not by strangers, but by beings with privileged authority over them – parents, close relatives, teachers, priests, etc. And privilege is what right-wing conservatives are most definitely associated with.

Conservative values call for authority and privilege to be unapologetically granted to and wielded by categories of beings who are considered "superior" – they place men above women, whites above non-whites, rich above poor, and, of course, adults above children, as well as everyone who meets their ideas of "normal" above those who don't. In other words, conservative values are aimed at creating exactly the kind of environment in which sexual abuse of children – and not only of children, but also of women – thrives unchecked, one where victims can be controlled and kept silent by abusers with greater social standing.

Conservativism isn't associated with pedophilia, as an orientation. It's associated with abuse, as an action. And it isn't only children who are threatened. Recognizing the fundamental malignancy of conservative ideology is important and useful, but let's get the specifics right – and let's not let them control how we talk about the issues, either. Another thing conservative values place a great deal of importance on is appearances; a conservative pedophile will usually never refer to themselves as a pedophile or a MAP, because the very concept of pride in one's attractions is a queer one. Conservatives don't have pride flags or labels, and they don't value diversity; rather, they refer to themselves in ways that emphasize conformity to social norms.

Someone who self-identifies as a MAP or pedophile, regardless of their intentions, even if they're among the minority whose intentions are actually malicious, is making themselves far less of a realistic threat to children. Eyes and scrutiny will be upon them and they won't be given privileged access to children. But someone who wears a mask of normalcy will.

Someone who promotes progressive ideas of egalitarianism, equality, and liberation is also making themselves far less of a realistic threat to children, because they're working to dismantle the same structures that empower adults to abuse children with impunity. But someone who believes that they're a superior type of being and should have control over others is entrenching privilege's use as a weapon of abuse.

Appearances can mislead, but actions don't. If you're looking for abusers, look no further than those systematically maneuvering to maximize their potential to abuse.