| pederasty | |
Pederasty is specifically the relationship between a man and a pubescent or postpubertal boy, generally under the age of eighteen, although the term has occasionally been used--most notably in France--to designate homosexuality between men of any age. In many cultures throughout many centuries, pederasty has been institutionalized, from ancient Athens to modern New Guinea. In most of these instances, it has been seen as an educative relationship in which the man prepares the boy to assume the responsibilities and offices of adulthood. Modern industrial societies have by and large rejected traditional pederastic relationships, and many have imposed harsh penalties for men who have sexual relations with underaged boys.
