Frequently Asked Questions

A few answers to some of the most common queries about Minor-Attracted People, and what they stand for:

*For new or questioning MAPs, we recommend the MAP Starting Guide, an Ipce initiative reproduced by Yesmap (EN, RU, ES, PT).

  1. What is a MAP?
  2. So MAP is just another word for pedophile?
  3. But all MAPs just want to have sex with little kids?
  4. Do MAPs use Child Porn (or child sexual abuse material)?
  5. What do MAPs think of sex offender registries?
  6. Don't you care about the children or youth?
  7. How many MAPs are there?
  8. Why am I only just hearing about MAPs?
  9. What even causes minor attraction?
  10. Shouldn't MAPs just get help?
  11. What do you think about other kinds of taboo sex like bestiality?
  12. What do you think about other political issues?
  13. So, what does Mu even hope to accomplish?
  14. What rights do MAPs even lack now?
  15. Why should I even care about MAP issues?

Eventually, we will link these answers to our position statements - a series of topical articles that will contain more background information and sources on particular topics.

▵What is a MAP?

MAP stands for "Minor-Attracted Person".

MAP stands for "Minor-Attracted Person" - a person who is preferentially attracted to people under the age of majority (in most countries, this is set at 18). The term is intentionally inclusive, reflecting the fact that many people who identify as MAPs are older minors attracted to those younger than themselves, and the reality that many MAPs are attracted to teenagers but not pre-pubescent children.

▵So MAP is just another word for pedophile?

MAP is an umbrella term for a range of attractions - not just pedophilia.

"Pedophile" and more particularly the shortened form "pedo", are unpopular due to their constant misuse.

The MAP community is tired of people confusing sexual attraction to minors with actual abuse. Technically, the word "pedophile" just means someone who is sexually attracted to pre-pubescents, but nowadays it brings to mind horrible images of a middle-aged man violently assaulting a small child. Criminals like that do exist, but they do not represent the MAP community any more than John Wayne Gacy or Jeffrey Dahmer represent the gay community or Ted Bundy represents straight men. In fact, studies show that most of the sexual abuse against children is committed by people who prefer adults.[1]

For years, people who are attracted to minors have debated the best way to describe themselves, with "Minor-Attracted" being suggested in 1998. In 2007, a group of young MAP activists in their late teens and early twenties favored "Minor-Attracted Person" over "Minor-Attracted Adult" (MAA), which had already seen some use inside B4U-ACT, a MAP-friendly charity that works with psychologists and other open-minded academics. Gradually, the academic community and MAP community demonstrated a preference for "MAP" over "MAA" or "pedophile" because it covered a broader range of individuals and attractions, plus it didn't carry the same stigma. The term is now a popular sexual identity for adults and older teens who are attracted to younger minors, and is likely here to stay.

▵But all MAPs just want to have sex with little kids?

No, that's a common misconception. MAPs are simply physically or romantically attracted to at least some minors.

For MAPs, there is much more nuance to the discussion of AMSC (adult-minor sexual contact). MAPs are a diverse group with equally diverse attractions and opinions. Although some MAPs have a sexual attraction toward younger children, many more MAPs are primarily attracted to adolescents and have little interest in preteens. Furthermore, some MAPs refer to themselves as "anti-c" (anti-contact), while others describe themselves as "pro-c" (pro-choice or pro-consent). There are also people who refer to themselves as contact-neutral (not holding a strong position), or moderate (supportive of mild reforms). Just like adult-attracted people, virtually all MAPs are opposed to forced or unwanted sexual activity. Furthermore, the majority of "pro-c" MAPs recommend following local laws regarding sex with minors, even if they disagree with them.[2][3]

Many pro-c MAPs believe in reforming laws around AMSC because they think it is not always harmful, depending on the circumstances. Even among pro-c MAPs, there are debates about exactly where the line should be drawn. Some people support a moderate age of consent around the start of puberty, while others support replacing age-based laws with other ways of checking agency and autonomy. Most in our community agree that very young children need protection, but that this protection will slowly give way to freedoms and responsibilities in line with their emerging competence as they mature.

Anti-c MAPs typically believe that sex between youth and adults is unethical, especially when involving minors under the age of consent. Some may have been sexually abused as children, and others might be concerned about perceived power imbalances, or the risk of secondary harm, i.e. minors being happy with the sexual contact at the time, but growing up with the pressure of being told that the relationship was wrong. Anti-c MAPs may support laws as they currently exist, or the maintenance of current laws without extreme consequences.

Whatever their attractions and opinions, however, most MAPs are committed to following relevant laws. There is also no clear evidence that pro-c MAPs are more inclined towards offending than anti-c's.[2][3]

▵Do MAPs use Child Porn (or child sexual abuse material)?

Some (but far from all) MAPs find erotica, prohibited or otherwise, useful in their daily lives.

A lot of MAPs these days are skeptical about terms like Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), or even Child Porn. Child abuse prevention agencies and charities have recently admitted that a massive number of the images now labeled as CSAM are actually self-generated by minors (nearly always teens) themselves, but they still call it abuse material.[4] Fictional images and stories, including hentai and written stories involving minors, are considered CSAM in many places, too. Even before this, data from sources in the UK (which has very vague guidelines on illegality) showed that a significant proportion of images found to be illegal did not even show any sexual activity.[15] As a result, Mu uses the term Prohibited Images of Minors (PIM) to refer to material that is illegal but may or may not involve abuse in its production.

Almost all MAPs are against making images in a way that harms minors, or sharing them without consent. However, many also think it's unfair to impose strict sentences on people who just download images that are freely available, especially if those images are self-generated. Many members of the public think that banning possession is necessary because of "market demand" principles that apply to financial transactions, but most MAPs who use PIM download leaked images and videos for free, kind of like how people download regular movies from torrent sites. Saying that this encourages a market for PIM just doesn't make sense.

Many MAPs find that looking at images of minors, whether they're legal or not, gives them an outlet. The MAP community, and even some non-MAPs, support making and using AI-generated sexual images of minors, or even realistic sex-dolls as a way to reduce the risk of contact offending without involving real minors in the process.

▵What do MAPs think of sex offender registries?

There is widespread support among MAPs for the abolition of these ineffectual, expensive and discriminatory registries.

Because of all the hate surrounding people who are attracted to minors, there are many laws that treat every instance of AMSC or viewing of PIM as a violent offense. For instance, MAPs can actually get thrown in jail for looking at images found in family photo albums, AI-generated pictures, or reading stories that are completely fictional and have nothing to do with real minors. This means a lot of MAPs end up being convicted of crimes without necessarily harming a minor.

Getting back to normal life is tough for any ex-criminal, but it's much harder for those convicted of sexual offenses, especially when it involves minors, due to registration systems that exist in many jurisdictions. Under these registration systems, ex-offenders sometimes have restrictions placed on their internet use, employment, education and even housing. There are also concerns around the safety of sex offender registries. In America, over 10 individuals (including relatives) have been murdered by vigilantes as a direct result of information published on them, with countless others brutally attacked.[14]

Most MAPs are opposed to these costly[16] registration systems because they are a form of double punishment, which research has proven doesn't even improve the rate of repeat offending. Instead, we support evidence-based reintegration programs that help ex-offenders get back on their feet and so they can contribute to society, remaining offense-free.

▵Don't you care about the children or youth?

Of course we do. Do most people hate the adults to whom they are attracted?

The vast majority of MAPs are very concerned about the well-being of minors and are opposed to anything that harms them. Many are even minors themselves. Studies have even shown that MAPs show higher levels of empathy towards minors than non-MAPs.[5]

However, many MAPs also believe that the way society handles these issues often misses the mark and can even make things worse. A lot of MAPs believe that the actual voices of minors need to be prioritized over the voices of so-called child protection agencies (who are often more interested in garnering donations than youth protection). As a result, many MAPs have an interest in Youth Rights or Youth Liberation movements that seek to give minors a more prominent voice in society, or support causes such as rights for LGBTQ+ Youth.

A lot of the images labeled as 'Child Sexual Abuse Material' (CSAM) are fictional depictions or actually made by minors - who will frequently even be prosecuted themselves. Calling this abuse material when no primary harm is involved doesn't make sense, since it stigmatizes and undermines the autonomy and agency of minor producers who are simply expressing their natural sexuality using methods that weren't available to older generations. We think it's important to focus resources on real abuse and exploitation, not on consensual activities or fictional content.

We care a lot about young people. We just think there are more realistic ways of protecting them that don't involve criminalizing their own harmless activities, or mindlessly punishing others.

▵How many MAPs are there?

We don't know for sure, but studies suggest over 10% of men could be MAPs.

It's hard to pin down exactly how many MAPs there are because a lot of people hide their attraction due to the stigma and legal risks associated with coming out. It's also difficult to draw a line around minor attraction because age is a continuum; does a woman that is attracted to adults but finds the occasional 16-year-old attractive count as a MAP? In addition, many MAPs are not exclusively attracted to minors. And even amongst exclusive MAPs, many people don't identify with the MAP label, complicating the process.

However, if we just look at the statistics, studies suggest that about 15% of men admit an attraction to under 18-year-olds and about 5% admit an attraction to under 14-year-olds.[6] We're even less sure of the numbers for women as fewer studies have been done. So, while we're not sure of the exact figures, there are a lot more MAPs than most people think.

▵Why am I only just hearing about MAPs?

We have always existed, but gaining even minimal recognition in the media has been a long road.

It's unfortunate, but most people's exposure to the concept of minor attraction comes in the form of news stories where someone (who in all statistical probability isn't even minor-attracted) is arrested for sexual contact with a minor. Or maybe they have heard of one of the first-wave activist organizations like NAMBLA, as parodied by Jon Stewart and South Park. The concept of minor attraction, however, is as old as recorded history, with relationships between adults and adolescents being especially common. It is general knowledge that girls used to marry in their early teens and that boys would have homosexual relationships with adult men in ancient civilizations as diverse as Greece, Persia, Japan and Rome. Historically, there have been many notable figures who could be considered MAPs, even if the term wasn't used back then.[7]

The MAP community has also been involved in more recent social and political movements. For instance, there have been historical examples of unity between LGBT and MAP communities, such as the aforementioned NAMBLA, which was a regular participant in Pride celebrations until the mid-90s,[8] and a key member of the ILGA gay umbrella - now part of the UN's ECOSOC consultative roster.

But despite this history and the fact that most everyone has some basic awareness of minor attraction, you're probably hearing more about MAPs now because the term and the community have only recently started gaining more visibility. The politics and terminology around MAPs really started to take shape in the mid to late 2000s, but it wasn't until the late 2010s that they began to get more attention in mainstream and social media. This increased visibility is partly due to the efforts of activists and non-MAP academics who have been working to bring these issues to light.

▵What even causes minor attraction?

There are probably genetic and environmental factors, but it's not like a switch you can turn on or off.

For a long time, the world has been fascinated by the question of whether there is a "gay gene" or if homosexuality is environmental. We still don't have a clear answer, but it seems there is a mix of factors. Similarly, minor attraction may have some factors that are biological and some that are environmental. We don't know the mix. We also don't know if there are any differences between people who have a heterosexual minor attraction and those who have a homosexual minor attraction.

What we do know, however, is that minor attraction typically emerges in early puberty, the same as other sexual orientations. It also seems to stay relatively stable over a lifespan, although there may be small shifts upwards and downwards in the primary age of attraction. It is also clear that just like with homosexuality, it cannot be changed, even by invasive conversion therapy. In addition to sexual attraction, research shows that many MAPs have a strong emotional congruence with minors and feelings of romantic attraction.[9] All of this suggests that minor attractions such as hebephilia are fixed sexual orientations that a certain percentage of the population experience. Mu believes that society needs to find better ways of relating with this demographic.

▵Shouldn't MAPs just get help?

Not all MAPs need or want help, but there are very few options for those who do.

Research shows that minor attraction is a fixed sexuality, and just like homosexuality it can't be changed, no matter the kind of therapy used. However, MAPs who struggle with impulse control could be helped, if they felt safe in seeking help.

Saying MAPs should "just get help" is easy enough, but in reality, it's way more complicated than it sounds. There are groups like B4U-ACT that seek to connect MAPs with compassionate and affirming therapists, to help them to live fulfilling and respectable lives.

Unfortunately, the stigma and discrimination MAPs face make it extremely tough for them to seek help openly, even from these specialized organizations. Many mental health professionals aren't trained to handle MAP issues, and there is always the fear of being reported to authorities even if no crime has been committed, which can lead to severe ostracism within the community. This fear of being outed or misunderstood often stops MAPs from getting the support they need.

Even MAPs who aren't at risk of offending can still be treated like "ticking time bombs" by therapists who focus on "harm prevention" instead of addressing the stigma, depression, and anxiety the MAP might be facing. Being treated like you're "one bad day away from abusing a minor" by a therapist who's supposed to be your ally can be really demeaning and this can keep some MAPs from getting the help they need.

▵What do you think about other kinds of taboo sex like bestiality?

Ultimately, we don't think people should be judged for sexual feelings they didn't choose. Attraction ≠ action.

First of all, attractions don't need to be acted upon; zoophilia for example can exist without bestiality. Some zoophiles are strongly opposed to sexual contact with animals.

We're not aware of any MAP group alliances with paraphile (e.g. objectophile) and zoophile groups, but Mu is always willing to consider them in the future. It should be stated that just like most adult-attracted people can have different paraphilias, some MAPs might have different paraphilias, too. Kinky and paraphilic MAPs should be welcome in our community; similarly, young people should not be chastised for expressing unusual kinks or diverse sexual interests - an expected part of their development.[10] At the same time, this topic must be handled sensitively, so as not to project the harmful and false idea that pedophiles (for example) are inherently sadistic or inclined to rape.

Since MAPs are an invalidated sexual minority, most non-paraphilic MAPs very much understand the kind of discrimination paraphiles might face. Mu doesn't currently take a stance beyond empathizing with paraphiles, since without formal alliance, a MAP organization can't fully speak on behalf of such groups.

▵What do you think about other political issues?

MAPs are not a monolithic group. We are as diverse as society itself.

Just like any other group, MAPs have a wide range of political, religious, and social views. While the decision to come out as a MAP might be political, the reasons for the MAP identity existing relate more to social ostracism, queer politics and mental health activism in the 1990s and 00s, than "far-left" political ideology of the 2010s, as claimed in the mainstream press.[11]

Since we often face discrimination because of our sexuality, many of us tend to be more empathetic towards other groups that are also discriminated against. But just like there are Gay, Trans, Black, and Asian people with all sorts of political opinions, you'll find all kinds of views among MAPs too.

▵So, what does Mu even hope to accomplish?

We have outlined a preliminary framework of four principles.

Mu has a range of goals to help out the MAP community, but our main focus is on what we call the VERY Important 2025 Principles. VERY stands for Visibility, Equality, Reform, and Youth.

First off, we want to boost the Visibility of MAPs and AAMs (Adult Attracted Minors) in society. We believe in fighting stigma and misinformation and telling people the truth about our sexual orientation. It starts with things like this FAQ, but we also offer our help to journalists and academics who want to learn more.

Next, we’re pushing for civic Equality for MAPs. We believe MAPs should have the same rights as everyone else and shouldn’t face legal or social discrimination just because of their sexuality. MAPs deserve the same rights associated with protected status that other minority groups get, including rights like free speech and freedom of association.

We also support legal Reform of laws that unfairly target MAPs. While opinions in our community might differ on some legal issues, almost all MAPs agree that we need to legalize all sexual depictions of fictional minors. We also think the law should clearly distinguish between voluntary AMSC and coercive child sexual abuse. Plus, we support getting rid of sex offender registries that keep punishing people even after they’ve served their time.

Lastly, we advocate for broad-based rights for Minors and Youth, in line with their evolving capacities. We’re against ageist policies that discriminate against younger people just because of their age. We back any movement that aims to give young people more agency and autonomy so they can have a say in every stage of the social and political process.

This isn’t a complete list of everything Mu wants to achieve, but it’s a set of guiding principles as we move forward as an organization.

▵What rights do MAPs even lack now?

MAPs are missing out on many freedoms that most people take for granted.

These are some of the basic freedoms that are unavailable to MAPs.

  • Access to compassionate information about themselves and their sexual orientation.

Many MAPs discover their attraction to minors as teens themselves, especially if they are attracted to prepubescent children. When searching for information on their sexual orientation, these young MAPs are likely to receive messaging suggesting that they are monsters and will inevitably abuse children. This increases the risk of suicide and harmful behavior.

  • The freedom to speak openly and safely about their sexual orientation.

MAPs often feel compelled to live lonely and secretive lives due to the fear of being outed. Outing can lead to severe consequences such as termination of employment, ostracism and violence, and even harassment from law enforcement.[12]

  • The freedom to safely communicate and meet like-minded people without fear of harassment.

Being able to speak with like-minded people is extremely important for humans of all sexual orientations. Organizations similar to Mu have been subject to police and journalistic infiltration in the past. Peer discussion sites have been raided, and members threatened by law enforcement, due to wrongful suspicion of PIM distribution.

  • Safe access to mental health support.

Many MAPs suffer distress due to the stigma and forced secrecy surrounding their sexual orientation.[13] It often plays a significant role in mental illnesses such as depression, yet telling a therapist that you're attracted to minors is extremely difficult and potentially dangerous. This means that many MAPs suffer from debilitating mental health issues, increasing the risk of harm to themselves and others.

  • Access to sexual outlets.

MAPs are divided on issues like the Age of Consent and PIM depicting real children, but all agree that it is unrealistic to expect MAPs to have no sexual outlet at all. When even artificially-generated depictions of minors are criminalized for being sexual in nature, some exclusive MAPs are left feeling quite sexually frustrated.

▵Why should I even care about MAP issues?

Most people will have a loved one who is a MAP. The current approach harms everyone.[14]

There are far more non-offending MAPs than many people realize. It is not uncommon even for parents, siblings, or spouses to be unaware that their relative is a MAP. You are almost certainly close to one, and there is a significant chance that someone you care about is struggling massively, and silently, with the stigma.

There is also a child protection issue arising from how MAPs are treated. MAP community leaders are concerned that the risk of harm to children is severely amplified by the overwhelming stigma, attempts to criminalize every possible outlet of sexual release (including those that don't involve real children), danger of confiding in friends and family, and the difficulty of accessing mental health support.

A small number of MAPs are also worried about the risk of younger community members potentially engaging in acts of violence if the situation continues to worsen. At Mu, we are opposed to violent forms of activism, but we are aware of the anger among young MAPs.

The current antagonism toward MAPs is unhelpful to every member of society. A more balanced approach is needed to support those who wish to avoid offending, and to protect children from harm.

▵References

  1. ▲ National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings (2014). On solid ground. Tackling sexual violence against children in the Netherlands. The Hague: National Rapporteur. For various historical studies backing this up, see anthologies compiled by B4U-ACT and Yesmap.

  1. ▲ Jahnke, S., & Malón, A. (2019). How pedophilic men think about adult-child sex: effects of child gender and physical maturity. Psychology, Crime & Law.

  2. ▲ Bailey, J. M., Bernhard, P. A., & Hsu, K. J. (2016). An Internet study of men sexually attracted to children: Correlates of sexual offending against children. J. Abnormal Psychology.

  3. ▲ IWF Annual Report (2023).

  4. ▲ Schuler, M. et al (2019). Empathy in pedophilia and sexual offending against children: A multifaceted approach. J. Abnormal Psychology.

  5. ▲ UNSW (2023). Identifying and understanding child sexual offending behaviours and attitudes among Australian men. For anthologies on prevalence, see B4U-ACT and Yesmap.

  6. ▲ Commonly cited examples exist, such as Oscar Wilde, Michael Jackson, Leonardo da Vinci, Mark Twain, Charles Dodgson, Gabriel Matzneff, John Ruskin, Edgar Allan Poe, and more recently others such as Alan Turing. See, for example, Yesmap's category for Historical Minor-Attracted Figures or BoyWiki's Boylovers. For cross-cultural examples of young people's expressed sexuality, see Janssen. For historical examples of pederasty, see Rind, and Greek-Love. For historical hebephilic relations, see Rind.

  7. ▲ A large number of examples exist. See for example, Paternotte, D. (2014). The International (Lesbian and) Gay Association and the question of pedophilia: Tracking the demise of gay liberation ideals. Sexualities. See also this compilation article by Yesmap.

  8. ▲ Seto, M. (2012). Is Pedophilia a Sexual Orientation? Archives of Sexual Behavior.

  9. ▲ DelGiudice M. (2017). Middle Childhood: An Evolutionary-Developmental Synthesis. In: Halfon N, Handbook of Life Course Health Development. "Fetishistic attractions also tend to form in middle childhood, with the onset of pleasurable sensations toward the object of the fetish (e.g., rubber, shoes) that later become fully eroticized (Lawrence, 2009)."

  10. ▲ See for example, Preply's survey of "annoying" social justice terms. "Minor-Attracted Person" was the most annoying for Democrats, but the least annoying for Republicans. Nevertheless, Republicans found all such terms more annoying than Democrats found them.

  11. ▲ Vigilantism is a pressing issue for MAPs as a group, see Laura Haas. (2022). The boundaries of victim protection criteria: should the victimisation of people with paedophilia be recognised as a form of hate crime under criminal law? Broad Street Humanities Review. See also Joe Purshouse. (2020). 'Paedophile Hunters’, Criminal Procedure, and Fundamental Human Rights. Journal of Law and Society.

  12. ▲ See anthologies at B4U-ACT (1, 2) and Yesmap.

  13. [▲Sex Offender Registries] [▲Why should I care?] See Yesmap's compilation on the adverse effects of sexual offending hysterias, in particular, the section on registry-abetted murder.

  14. ▲ Claire Milner, Ian O'Donnel (2007). Child Pornography: Crime, computers and society (p. 123).

  15. ▲ See PARSOL (2021). Re: Costs to the Commonwealth associated with public sexual offense registries, also ABC Eyewitness News (2017). Jacob Wetterling Resource Center: We Spend Too Much Money Watching Sex Offenders.