Prostitution, Parenting, and Pedophilia: An Exploratory Study of Women’s Accounts of Life in a Sex Cult. Paper/Presentation
Abstract
Using accounts from in-depth interviews with women who lived in the Children of God/The Family, I present personal testimony from women who reared children in this group while simultaneously engaging in “Flirty Fishing,” a form of sacred prostitution. Some of the women gave birth to nine or more children, some were not sure of the fathers, and others reported that their children were sexually and physically abused by male members of the group. Preliminary findings from this ongoing study support previous research suggesting that male-dominated new religious movements are associated with the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children, specifically that this type of cult environment not only attracts pedophiles but also encourages adults to engage in activities associated with pedophilia and child abuse.
Suggested Citation
Miriam W. Boeri. "Prostitution, Parenting, and Pedophilia: An Exploratory Study of Women’s Accounts of Life in a Sex Cult. Paper/Presentation" Association for the Sociology of Religion. Montreal, Canada. Aug. 2006.