A second problem concerns terminology. Sexual abuse of male children by
adult men1 is often referred to as "homosexual molestation," which implies
that the perpetrator is himself gay or has a homosexual orientation.
Usually, however, the adjectives "homosexual" and "heterosexual" really
refer to the victim's gender in relation to that of the perpetrator, not to
the perpetrator's sexual orientation.
The distinction between gender of victim and sexual orientation of
perpetrator is important because many child molesters have never developed
the capacity for mature sexual relationships with other adults, either men
or women. Recognizing this fact, Finkelhor and Araji (1986) proposed that
discussions of the sexual attractions of perpetrators should be
conceptualized along a continuum ranging in degrees from exclusive interest
in children to exclusive interest in adult partners.
Similarly, Groth and Birnbaum (1978) categorized child molesters as either
fixated or regressed (see also Groth, Hobson, & Gary, 1982). Fixated
offenders never developed an adult sexual orientation of any sort, whereas
regressed molesters have done so. Thus, regressed molesters can be adult
homosexuals, heterosexuals, or bisexuals. But it is meaningless to speak of
fixated molesters in these terms - they are attracted to children, not to
men or women.
Using this distinction, Groth and Birnbaum (1978) found that none of the
175 adult males in their sample - all of whom were convicted in
Massachusetts of sexual assault against a child - had an exclusively
homosexual adult sexual orientation. 83 of the men (47%) were classified as
"fixated;" 70 others (40%) were classified as regressed adult
heterosexuals; the remaining 22 (13%) were classified as regressed adult
bisexuals. Of the last group, Groth and Birnbaum observed that "in their
adult relationships they engaged in sex on occasion with men as well as
with women. However, in no case did this attraction to men exceed their
preference for women....There were no men who were primarily sexually
attracted to other adult males..." (p.180).
Another researcher took a different perspective. Dr. Carole Jenny reviewed
352 medical charts, representing all of the sexually abused children seen
in the emergency room or child abuse clinic of a Denver children's hospital
during a one-year period (from July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1992). The molester
was a gay or lesbian adult in only 2 of the 269 cases in which an adult
molester could be identified (less than 1% of the cases).
. There is neither Laconian, nor Spartan poetry with explicit homosexuality, and further the state considered bachelorhood a disgrace, and any man who failed to father sons was looked down upon. 