Three Philias, Seduction, and Grooming

The Policy vs. Reality of Statutory Rape Laws | Teen Pregnancy & Accusations

Explore how statutory rape laws often serve the State’s interest in preventing teenage pregnancy, sometimes overshadowing the complex reality of consensual relationships and the ‘gray area’ of false or vindictive accusations.

A critical look at the underlying policy of statutory rape laws, contrasting the state’s interest in preventing teenage pregnancy with the complex social reality of consensual teenage relationships. This essay explores the ‘gray areas’ of liability when manipulation, rather than grooming, leads to legal accusations.

Part 3 of Sex with Teenagers Series

It is erroneously assumed that all adults who engage in sex with minors are pedophiles. The definition of pedophilia, according to Merriam-Webster is:

: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object

specifically : a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child

The definition of prepubescent, according to Merriam-Webster is:

: of, relating to, being in, or occurring in the period of development immediately preceding puberty

The definition of puberty, according to Merriam-Webster is:

1 : the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the reproductive organs (such as the testes and ovaries), development of secondary sex characteristics (such as male facial hair growth and female breast development), and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female

2 : the age at which puberty occurs often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls

Note: Although girls typically begin the process of puberty at age 10 or 11, and boys at age 11 or 12,[3] psychiatric diagnostic criteria for pedophilia extend the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13.

So, what is it called when the preferred sexual object is pubescent or post-pubescent minor?

According to an article on the Psychology Today website:

“Hebephilia is a sexual preference for children in early adolescence, between ages 11 and 14. The concept is distinct from pedophilia, which is marked by a sexual preference for prepubescent children, rather than those who have finished puberty and entered adolescence. Ephebophilia refers to an attraction for older adolescents around 15 to 18 years old.”

It is important to note that Statutory rape laws apply to sexual intercourse with consenting minors in the age range of 13 to 17. This is regardless of whether the accused is an adult, age 18 or older, or also in the age range of 13 to 17. Even though the statutory rape laws say a minor cannot LEGALLY consent, if there was NO consent, the charge would be rape, not statutory rape.

What about grooming?

According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the definition of grooming is:

“Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked.

Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their age, gender or race. Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time – from weeks to years. Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person’s family or friends to make them seem trustworthy or authoritative.”

This means even a teenager between the ages of 13 to 17 can be a groomer.

Then, what is seduction?

According to Merriam-Webster the definition of seduction includes:

Synonyms of seduction

1 : the act of seducing

especially : the enticement of a person to sexual intercourse

2 : something that seduces : temptation

3 : something that attracts or charms

Anyone who wishes to be sexually active can engage in the act of seduction. This includes minors between the ages of 13 to 17. The target of seduction can include those from the age of 13 and on into adulthood.

With all of this spelled out, it would be wise to avoid jumping to a conclusion that someone accused of statutory rape was groomer, they might have been seduced. Or, there might have actually been a loving relationship between two consenting people regardless of the statutory rape laws stating a minor cannot LEGALLY consent.

Example: Charlie is 19. His girlfriend, Brianna, is 17. Charlie knows people who have served jail time for violating statutory rape law and is very concerned about this threat. So he and Brianna plan on waiting until she is 18 before they have sex.

Brianna’s birthday is on February 2. On the night of February 1, she and Charlie stay up late. Just after midnight—after the date has changed to February 2-they have sexual intercourse for the first time. Charlie did not commit the offense because Brianna is now considered to be 18.

Had they begun sexual intercourse at 11:59pm on February 1, Charlie could be charged with statutory rape.

Refer to the previous two parts of this series…Statutory rape laws are intended to protect the State and taxpayers from the burden of teenage pregnancy out of wedlock. If there was no consent or if there was actual grooming, the charge would be rape. If there was consent after seduction, there is no rape. However, the seduced partner can still be charged with statutory rape by a vindictive, manipulative person. And, a manipulative person is capable of lying and saying that, instead of them being a seducer, their partner was a groomer.

The moral of this series is this:

Be careful who you have sex with no matter what age you and your intended partner are. Get to know a potential sexual partner and their parents well. Make sure you avoid teenage sex. That means, wait until you and your intended partner are both adults. And, if you just can’t wait, get the permission of both your and your partner’s parents for the two of you to legally marry and engage in sexual intercourse ONLY after you are legally married!

There is too much gray area to be caught in and too many broken, untrustworthy, manipulative, vindictive minors in this world who can hurt you after convincing you that they would never, just to make someone, anyone pay for what happened to them that caused them to be this way.