Sexual practices vary around the world. What one culture thinks of as normal, another culture thinks of as taboo (or forbidden). For instance...
...the age of consent varies depending on where you are in the world (and whether you're male or female, straight or gay/lesbian). Even within the United States, the age varies by state. According to AVERT (an international HIV and AIDS charity, based in the UK) some examples of variance include:
Must be married: Yemen/Pakistan/Saudi Arabia
21: Camaroon (18 if married)
18: Costa Rica/Kenya/California
17: Ireland/North Korea/Texas
16: New Zealand/Cuba/United Kingdom/Massachusetts
15: France/Greece/Denmark/ Ethiopia
14: Italy/China/Chile/Arka nsas (but only if you're male in AR; females have to wait until 16)
13: Nigeria/South Korea/Spain
12: Vatican State/Zimbabwe (but again, only if you're male in ZW; for females it's 16)
Taboo #2: The Age of Consent
Invited: All users.
Discussion Topics
1.
Should there be an "age of consent"? If so, what should it be?
(33 posts)
I think age of consent laws serve a practical purpose. They prevent children who are too young for sexual activity from being exploited. Teenagers pose a tricky situation. Though they may indeed be physically ready for sexual activity, not all of them are responsible enough or psychologically ready for sex. For practicality purposes, I suggest age 16 as a reasonable age of consent. In the absence of force, teens 16 and older are generally having sex, because it is what they want.
08/07/2011
In Canada our age of consent was 14, then got raised to 16 a few years ago. There's also an exemption for people between 14 and 16 whose partner is less than 5 years older, and for those between 12 and 14 whose partner is less than 2 years older.
I think 16 is a good age. 14 seems too young. Anything over 18 is silly since you are an adult at that point.
I think 16 is a good age. 14 seems too young. Anything over 18 is silly since you are an adult at that point.
08/07/2011
Quote:
sometiems i think teh age of concent is dumbw hen it gets misused boyfriend girlfriend r underage one gets mad at the other the otehr tells something happened that may or may not of ruines that other persons life for anger
Originally posted by
EJ
-Is there a universal age/time at which human beings in general are biologically and psychologically ready to have sex?
-Should the age vary according to sex? Or sexual preference? Or culture? Or any other factor?
-Should the age vary according to sex? Or sexual preference? Or culture? Or any other factor?
08/10/2011
Quote:
I have to totally agree. If you can hop into a car, and earn your own income, then sex is going to happen for some people. Telling 16-year-olds, you can work and drive, but don't have sex is just a bit silly.
Originally posted by
Wondermom
growing up in new zealand I think everywhere should be 16. It was a very good imo, if you are mature enough to be in control of a vehicle and sign up for the army then you should be able to make the decision to have sex or not.
08/10/2011
I have a friend from Nigeria and the horror stories she can tell about 13 year olds and what happens to them have altered my perspective on it forever. Physically, 16 is probably a good age. Emotionally/mentally, more like 18. Lets face it, the guys I dated at 16 are way different from the ones I dated later in life. And physical affection, at least for me, builds emotional ties so strongly that I feel I just wasn't ready at 16.
Jan 16, 5:08 pm
I agree with 16. 15 I can see, but I think 16 is a good age of consent. I realize some people start having sex earlier, and not everyone reaches maturity at the same time, but 15 or 16 is when people really start maturing and doing it, so that's reasonable. Especially considering that age of consent is basically about having sex with an older partner.
However, I don't get that someone can legally have sex with their older boyfriend/girlfriend, but not legally be able to buy sex toys or send their partner naked pictures of themselves at that age. :/ It's kind of silly to me.
However, I don't get that someone can legally have sex with their older boyfriend/girlfriend, but not legally be able to buy sex toys or send their partner naked pictures of themselves at that age. :/ It's kind of silly to me.
Jan 16, 5:13 pm
I agree with 15-16. I first started at 14 and, while I don't regret it and knew it wasn't "legal" (Not than many sexual things ARE legal in Alabama, anyway) I think waiting a bit would have been nice. I don't think I knew what I was getting into.
An age does need to be set though, just for protective purposes. Too many people are able to manipulate young minds, unfortunately.
An age does need to be set though, just for protective purposes. Too many people are able to manipulate young minds, unfortunately.
Jan 16, 7:18 pm
Quote:
18 i think is a good age.. 16 your still young and dumb enough to make serious mistakes..
Originally posted by
EJ
-Is there a universal age/time at which human beings in general are biologically and psychologically ready to have sex?
-Should the age vary according to sex? Or sexual preference? Or culture? Or any other factor?
-Should the age vary according to sex? Or sexual preference? Or culture? Or any other factor?
Feb 2, 8:41 am
18.
Kids in high school are just kids and still growing and learning. When they are 18 they become an adult. They are free to do what they want in life. Kids in high school are stupid basically- they are still caught up in drama and petty things, and who’s kissing who crap. Decision making wise, they don't make good decisions. They may feel like they are ready for things like that but they are not, they are not mature enough to be making those decisions.
A person’s brain fully develops around about age 25. The part of your brain you use to make decisions isn't fully formed till around age 22.
Kids think they are ready way before their time. Just because you started your period doesn’t mean you’re an adult and able to make life changing decisions like that. Sex is a big thing; you have to be mentally/psychological ly ready for it. There are risks to your mental and physical health by having sex. As well as getting pregnant or becoming a father before you are mentally ready for it.
Kids can be easily swayed to have sex especially by older people, sometimes just because they don't want to seem 'uncool' or a prude. That doesn't sound like a person who can make their own decisions. They just aren't adults yet.
Kids under 18 are hormonal messes. Their brains are at the most crucial developmental years/state. They are not making good decisions.
Ages under 16 shouldn't even be up for discussion. Those are little kids. Just coming into their teens- Just starting to develop. Those children would rather play video games than anything else. They cannot mentally or physically handle it.
18 is a good age. You're out in the world now ready to make your own decisions; the baby bird has now flown the nest. You are still not fully developed at this age, but your almost there. You’re becoming your own person. This should be the universal age of consent everywhere.
And I am a 20 year old with no children. So I’m not being motherly or over protective. Children having sex before their time is just damaging even if they think they are ready.
I told myself I wouldn't comment because I believe this so strongly I would make a huge post, lol. Couldn’t help it.
Kids in high school are just kids and still growing and learning. When they are 18 they become an adult. They are free to do what they want in life. Kids in high school are stupid basically- they are still caught up in drama and petty things, and who’s kissing who crap. Decision making wise, they don't make good decisions. They may feel like they are ready for things like that but they are not, they are not mature enough to be making those decisions.
A person’s brain fully develops around about age 25. The part of your brain you use to make decisions isn't fully formed till around age 22.
Kids think they are ready way before their time. Just because you started your period doesn’t mean you’re an adult and able to make life changing decisions like that. Sex is a big thing; you have to be mentally/psychological ly ready for it. There are risks to your mental and physical health by having sex. As well as getting pregnant or becoming a father before you are mentally ready for it.
Kids can be easily swayed to have sex especially by older people, sometimes just because they don't want to seem 'uncool' or a prude. That doesn't sound like a person who can make their own decisions. They just aren't adults yet.
Kids under 18 are hormonal messes. Their brains are at the most crucial developmental years/state. They are not making good decisions.
Ages under 16 shouldn't even be up for discussion. Those are little kids. Just coming into their teens- Just starting to develop. Those children would rather play video games than anything else. They cannot mentally or physically handle it.
18 is a good age. You're out in the world now ready to make your own decisions; the baby bird has now flown the nest. You are still not fully developed at this age, but your almost there. You’re becoming your own person. This should be the universal age of consent everywhere.
And I am a 20 year old with no children. So I’m not being motherly or over protective. Children having sex before their time is just damaging even if they think they are ready.
I told myself I wouldn't comment because I believe this so strongly I would make a huge post, lol. Couldn’t help it.
Feb 3, 11:40 pm
Well, an individual's maturity level is going to vary quite greatly. To draw a quote from Susan Campbell Bartoletti's novel No Man's Land, which I read some years back: "There are men who are 14 and boys who are 40." I think this holds true - and for girls and women, as well. For the sake of practicality and the law, I think 16 is a good age, provided that information about safe sex habits is readily available.
Feb 4, 12:12 am
Quote:
Since everyone is differen't it's a little hard to decide what age to put it at
Originally posted by
EJ
-Is there a universal age/time at which human beings in general are biologically and psychologically ready to have sex?
-Should the age vary according to sex? Or sexual preference? Or culture? Or any other factor?
-Should the age vary according to sex? Or sexual preference? Or culture? Or any other factor?
Feb 4, 7:20 pm
Total posts:
33
Unique posters: 32
Unique posters: 32