One thing I've noticed when reading comments about my writing is that people assume I absolutely must be molesting my students, simply because I'm an unapologetic MAP and a teacher. You'll see comments about authorities from my purported home country coming to arrest me, suggestions that fathers of students will attack me, and so on.

I am pro-choice philosophically, but also not stupid. I'm aware of secondary harm; that is, the harm that sociolegal responses might inflict on a younger partner. I'm also very much cognizant of the repercussions for myself, which wouldn't be pretty. At no point have I ever stated that adults should go out and have sex with those below the age of consent, despite my aggressive philosophical ramblings on the matter. I'm also very responsible with my students and YFs, and I'm not having sex with them (not even the super cute ones!).

So why do people assume that I must be having sex with children, to the point that they treat it as an absolute certainty? This is something they deem akin to rape, after all. The implication, frankly, is that if they were born with a sexual attraction to children, that is what they would do. They would, if born with the same feelings as us, commit an act they believe to be rape.

I'm pleased I'm not a woman.