The Betrayal of Youth (Book)
The Betrayal of Youth: Radical Perspectives on Childhood Sexuality, Intergenerational Sex, and the Social Oppression of Children and Young People (London: CL Publications, 1986), is a book edited by Warren Middleton, the Vice-Chair of PIE, the Paedophile Information Exchange. As gay / LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell stated in his positive review of the book, 'The Betrayal of Youth presents a diverse collection of essays by 16 different authors who offer a 'radical perspective' on the history, sociology, politics and ethics of ‘childhood sexuality, inter-generational sex, and the social oppression of children and young people'.[1] The book and Tatchell's contribution have been the subject of controversy and debate, also being discussed in a blog entry on Tom O'Carroll's blog, titled Gilt is stripped from Saint Peter's halo (2021).
The book features contributions from Leftist thinkers like Roger Moody and John Lindsay, and the feminist author Beatrice Faust. The whole text can be downloaded for free on Library Genesis.[2]
Table of Contents
PART ONE: FIVE CONTROVERSIAL AREAS CHAPTER 1 – 'Incest', by Clive Coliman
CHAPTER 2 – 'Child Pornography and Erotica', by Richard Green
CHAPTER 3 – 'Child Prostitution', by Warren Middleton
CHAPTER 4 – 'Gender Differences', by Liz Holton and Kathy Challis
CHAPTER 5 – 'Power and Consent', by Eric Presland
PART TWO: MISCELLANEOUS CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 6 – 'Love and Let Love', by Tuppy Owens and Tom O’Carroll
CHAPTER 7 – 'Children and Sex; A Child Counsellor's View', by Michael Ingram
CHAPTER 8 – 'The Pedophiles', by Beatrice Faust
CHAPTER 9 – 'Questioning Ages of Majority and Ages of Consent', by Peter Tatchell
CHAPTER 10 – 'Ends and Means; How to Make Paedophilia Acceptable...?', by Roger Moody
CHAPTER 11 – 'Socialism, Class, and Children's Rights', by John Lindsay
PART THREE: PROTECTION QR OPPRESSION?
CHAPTER 12 – 'Childhood Sexuality and Pedophilia; Some Questions Answered', by Warren Middleton.
PART FOUR: HOW YOUTH SEE THE ISSUES
CHAPTER 13 – 'The Oppression of the Young: An Inside Perspective', by Jeff Vernon.
References
- ↑ The book was reviewed positively by Peter Tatchell in the 13 June 1987 edition of 7 Days, the newsletter of the British Communist Party at that time, under the heading "Radical thoughts on consent".
- ↑ The Betrayal of Youth: Radical Perspectives on Childhood Sexuality, Intergenerational Sex, and the Social Oppression of Children and Young People, ed. by Warren Middleton (London: CL Publications, 1986). Libgen link.