When men justify the sexual exploitation of minors by referencing the past—”people married young back then”—they are not recounting history. They are weaponizing it.
Yes, child marriage existed in certain societies. But what they often forget—or deliberately ignore—is that marriage, back then, came with weighty responsibilities. It meant providing, protecting, and binding one’s life to another in the eyes of society, family, and law. The modern exploitation of minors, however, is about none of these. It is about control without responsibility, desire without consequence, and power without consent.
To compare the two is not only dishonest. It is dangerous.
The Psychology Behind Justification
So why do some men reach for history books to excuse what is clearly a crime today? The answer lies in a complex mix of shame avoidance, dominance, and emotional detachment:
Self-Justification: They want to mute the voice of guilt. If they can convince themselves that “this has always happened,” it numbs the sting of their own moral failure.
Power Fantasy: Sexual access to someone younger is not about love; it’s about control. It’s a sick assertion of hierarchy—”I am dominant, you are submissive.”
Commodification of People: In a culture where porn and social media objectify women, young girls become viewed not as human beings but as consumable experiences.
Empathy Deficiency: These individuals often lack the ability or willingness to imagine the psychological damage they cause. They do not see a child’s soul being fractured—only their own gratification.
This isn’t ignorance. This is chosen blindness.
The Cultural Disease of Silent Acceptance
When society excuses or downplays these behaviors, it breeds silence. That silence enables predators. It also conditions young girls to believe their pain is either their fault or doesn’t matter.
This is not just about criminal justice. This is about moral clarity.
We must stop allowing the misuse of history to become a smokescreen for abuse.
Conclusion: Draw the Line
The past cannot be used to justify the unforgivable. A society that does not protect its most vulnerable is already spiritually decaying. To confront this, we need more than laws. We need voices—loud, unrelenting, and unwilling to forget.
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