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Summary Statement B4U-ACT Workshop 11-13-08

Posted by michaelmelsheimer on 2008-November-17 18:20:52 EST, Monday
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This statement was developed and accepted by all attendees (Minor Attracted People and Mental Health Professionals) at the Workshop.

Richard Kramer and Russell Dick did an outstanding job of making the workshop happen. We also can't forget the financial support that we received from Baltimore Mental Health Systems, Inc. and one anonymous minor attracted adult.

There were 5 BL's, 1 GL, and 12 mental health professionals that attended the workshop. Out of the six minor attracted people that were at the workshop, only one was relatively new to our online communities.

A conversation has started. As long as "we " can keep it going, there is hope for "everyone."


B4U-ACT
WORKSHOP SUMMARY STATEMENT
Nov. 13, 2008

The current professional language used to describe minor attracted persons (MAPs) has the following characteristics:

• It uses clinical jargon, making it difficult to communicate with the general public.

• It gives the general impression that any attraction to children is an illness.

• MAPs are not involved in defining the current terms. “Nothing about me without me.”

• It creates fear, separation, secrecy, and shame.

• It depersonalizes MAPs, is value laden, is not descriptive, and is not supported by unbiased research.

• It suggests that all MAPs are the same and engage in the same harmful behaviors.

We identified the following consequences of this language:

• Current language does not promote hope or understanding.

• The language disenfranchises MAPs, resulting in lack of access to services and lack of inclusion in research data.

The language will be more productive if:

• We make an effort to decide what certain words (e.g., molest, pedophilia) mean and disseminate those definitions to other professionals and to the public.

• We use language that differentiates attractions from behavior.

• We are sensitive to the limitations and differing interpretations of words, and to the fact that some usage might be offensive or inaccurate.

• MAPs accept themselves, reclaim words, and become involved in changing the discourse.

• The language is objective and example-specific.

• It does not pathologize the attraction to minors.

• We recognize the importance of what is conveyed by non-verbal language.

• We use words that don’t stop the conversation

We began identifying some problematic terms, including pedophile, predator, molestation, grooming, and abuser.

• The word pedophile is used in ways that does not distinguish between feelings of attraction and behavior, and clinical usage differs from cultural usage.

• The word predator is an animal metaphor, tends to be applied to all MAPs, suggests animal instincts that cannot be controlled, suggests a monster; and is sometimes used with the intent to demonize.

• The word grooming fails to recognize that there is a continuum of behaviors from normative to harmful; if behavior is manipulative, then it should be called manipulative.

• In general, terms should recognize the spectrum of behaviors and avoid over-generalization.

We discussed the following next steps for possible work by B4U-Act:

• Get the Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services and the Department of Juvenile Services involved in the discussion.

• Hold more workshops in different parts of the state.

• Contact the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT); someone from B4U-Act should join.

• Observe at the Forgotten Youth training conference in early December for professionals who work with JSOs.

• Seek out conferences and classes where we have contacts so we could present at them.

• Publicize the need for more accurate research.

• Publish articles in professional journals.

• Write letters for publication in professional newsletters.

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