Stigmatizing vs. Sympathizing

          Which is worse: Possessing a mindset of such repulsion towards people with mental illnesses out of fear, or sympathizing with their dangerous desires? This dilemma stifles scientists, psychologists, and everyday people morally conflicted on whether or not pedophilia inherently makes an individual a threat to society. It is already perceived that pedophilia is shameful, but in what way does this stigma prevent pedophiles from acting on their attractions? Doesn't this just make it harder for someone struggling to seek help? 

           The most apparent exemplification of this presumption resides in the media we consume. In several popular movies and TV shows, for example, Criminal Minds (2005-present), The Lovely Bones (Peter Jackson 2009), The Girl Next Door (Luke Greenfield 2007), Deliver Us From Evil (Scott Derrickson 2014), and Lolita (Stanley Kubrick 1962), the present pedophiles are depicted as unattractive, undesirable rapists. The way in which these people are presented is intended to make the audience believe the pedophiles are subhuman individuals who could never exist in plain sight. Pedophiles are generally shown as scrawny, creepy white men unable to find love with a woman, so they resort to preying on vulnerable children. They also are commonly strangers, never portrayed as a sibling or close friend, making pedophilia seem so unfamiliar and abnormal. In my film opening, I wish to present pedophiles realistically, often looking and acting like normal people.

Resources:

Shroyer, Owen. "DISGUSTING: MEDIA NORMALIZING PEDOPHILIA." Infowars, 10 Jan. 2017
          www.infowars.com/disgusting-media-normalizing-pedophilia/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2017.
"Hollywood and Corporate Media are Crusading to Normalize Pedophilia." Living Resistance, 2 Feb.

          2017, livingresistance.com/2017/02/13/hollywood-corporate-media-crusading-normalize-
          pedophilia/.Accessed 11 Mar. 2017.

Mevertis, Judet. "Why are pedophiles in the media always white, physically weak, insecure and
          skinny?" Quora, 29 Dec. 2015, www.quora.com/Why-are-pedophiles-in-the-media-always

          white-physically-weak-insecure-and-skinny. Accessed 11 Mar. 2017.
Demyan, Ashley. and Kosonovich, Carleigh. "Portraying Pedophilia: Depictions of Pedophiles on

          Network Television" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of

          Criminology(ASC), Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA, Nov 01, 2006 <Not

          Available>. 2017-03 11