Democratic Love and the Deviant Counterpublic: An Ideological Critique of NAMBLA's Ideology of Love and Intimacy

• In Event: Organizational Learning in Crisis and Conflict

Abstract

This essay explores the rhetorical strategies used by the North American Man Boy/Love Association (NAMBLA) website to advocate a normalized ideology of love and intimacy in man/boy relationships. The authors employ an ideological critique in order to uncover how the organization presents itself as an advocacy organization committed to social justice for sexually oppressed individuals. Furthermore, the NAMBLA organization functions as a counterpulic by repositioning man/boy love as natural and mutually beneficial.

Authors

• Elaine L. Davies, University of Missouri, Columbia

• Patricia Groves, University of Missouri, Columbia

• Wanjiru Mbure, University of Missouri, Columbia

• Ryan Montague, University of Missouri, Columbia

• Loreen Olson, University of Missouri, Columbia