Re: Why are no women exclusive pedophiles?

Baldur makes good points in his reply.

i wld add that the primary developmental pathway of the human embryo is inherently female, and that male development is initiated by specific hormonal changes in the uterine environment. this is reflected in androgen insensitivity syndrom (AIS) which is a common cause of intersex conditions.

its also been suggested that homosexuality may be linked to fluctuations of androgenic steroids in utero. its been found that androgen exposure affects relative finger length, and that men and women with smaller index/ring finger ratio are more likely to be gay. interestingly this and other research suggests that male homosexuality is a response to increased androgen levels.

there is quite a lot of evidence that paedophilia is linked with hormonal disturbances as well, although this is commonly suppressed in case it makes us seem less to blame for our difference (see my other post on Fred Berlin).

i've gathered a lot of studies where males in other mammalian species exhibit 'alloparenting' behaviour and female nurturing patterns in response to decreased androgen concentration in utero. like relative finger length, this phenomenon also shows a link with the sex of older siblings.

it also reflects something Baldur drew attention to, that females are intrinsically more interested in children, and there is greater scope for them to express this in society, to the extent that they can consummate physical, even erotic attraction without sanction. (altho negative attitudes to breast feeding in western societies do reflect a puritanical mindset..)

so i think paedophilia is in many ways a male phenomenon. this is because nurturing young is a female phenomenon which paedophiles have acquired thru some departure from the normal pathway of development for their sex.

i think the sexual/erotic/romantic aspects of paedophilia are partly to do with the fact that these nurturing elements are embedded in an otherwise male body, and also becos the paedophile has to find a way to reconcile his feelings for children with cultural expectations of masculinity.