The image of ‘the pedophile’ is crucial to the continued existence of patriarchy. The reason child abuse and spousal abuse has existed, and can continue to exist, is because there is essentially no where else for people to go to not be abused. Financially (and otherwise) forced to stay in a terrible situation. All this was recognized decades ago, but in order to end this terrible abuse, it would mean ending the nuclear family. Enter “the pedophile”. Instead, all abuse and all issues that are systemically enabled can now be said to be the fault of a handful of bad actors. There is no child abuse or spouse abuse problem in our society. Only ‘the pedophile’ and you can help cast them out by simply targeting whoever we have decided to jacket as ‘the pedophile’ this week. Jacketing lgbtq+ people as ‘pedophiles and groomers’ is now basically their standard move now. It isn’t just about making it socially acceptable. It’s about creating a figure in people’s heads who is responsible for some of the most awful crimes imaginable. Then pointing at someone and saying ‘gettem boy’ and watching as people go frothing at the mouth to murder someone, because they imagine them to be equivalent to the image of’ the pedophile’ that has been ruthlessly constructed in their head.