The core issue in your argument is being unable to define pedophilia as either a sexuality or a mental disorder.
Either pedophilia is an inherent part of a persons sexual identity that is uncontrollable and unable to be changed, or it is a disorder that requires treatment which can lead to beneficial outcomes for the individual.
That is a fair objection, and I don’t know why you got downvoted - here is my upvote for what that matters.
First of all I would argue that the difference between a “quirk” and a mental illness is whether it messes with your life, and pedophilia very much does - in that sense a sexuality can be a mental illness if it interferes with your mental wellbeing.
Secondarily would say that whether pedophilia can be “cured” through therapy - making it a mental illness in your definition - or it can only be mitigated, is something that therapists know and I don’t.
Regardless, it makes no difference towards the point I was trying to make: people who suffer from it should not be stigmatised because of it, as it makes it harder and scarier for them to seek help.
The core issue in your argument is being unable to define pedophilia as either a sexuality or a mental disorder.
Either pedophilia is an inherent part of a persons sexual identity that is uncontrollable and unable to be changed, or it is a disorder that requires treatment which can lead to beneficial outcomes for the individual.
It cannot be both.
That is a fair objection, and I don’t know why you got downvoted - here is my upvote for what that matters.
First of all I would argue that the difference between a “quirk” and a mental illness is whether it messes with your life, and pedophilia very much does - in that sense a sexuality can be a mental illness if it interferes with your mental wellbeing.
Secondarily would say that whether pedophilia can be “cured” through therapy - making it a mental illness in your definition - or it can only be mitigated, is something that therapists know and I don’t.
Regardless, it makes no difference towards the point I was trying to make: people who suffer from it should not be stigmatised because of it, as it makes it harder and scarier for them to seek help.