What should the "Age of Consent" be (illegal, lawyers, dollar)
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I voted 17 for a very practical reason. If a pregnancy occurs, a baby will be, at most, only a few months old by the parent's (mom or dad's) 18th birthday. That way, the teenaged parent can be responsible for caring for that baby for themselves, since they will be legally an adult.
What strikes me as unfair is that when there is a pregnancy with an underage person, the parents of the kid (usually the daughter) end up footing the bill for the care of the baby. That means the parents of the underage kid do have some stake in when (what age) their kid has sex, because sex can lead to pregnancy, and pregnancy leads to a baby, which the parents (grandparents of the baby) end up paying for (usually).
So for that reason, the age of consent should be directly tied to the person being able to support any child that results from sex. If they're 13, 14, 15, they are way too young and have have several years before they're an adult and can make adult decisions. So their parents must "pay" for their decision to have sex (by supporting the baby that may result from sex).
I agree with this 100%. Pregnancy affects everyone in a household and others end up footing the financial and emotional bill and that usually does not include any help from the father or the father's family when it comes to teenage pregnancy. You should be old enough legally to take care of any offspring you produce before being able to legally consent so that the consequences fall solely on the persons that chose to have sex and no one else.
I voted 17 for a very practical reason. If a pregnancy occurs, a baby will be, at most, only a few months old by the parent's (mom or dad's) 18th birthday. That way, the teenaged parent can be responsible for caring for that baby for themselves, since they will be legally an adult.
What strikes me as unfair is that when there is a pregnancy with an underage person, the parents of the kid (usually the daughter) end up footing the bill for the care of the baby. That means the parents of the underage kid do have some stake in when (what age) their kid has sex, because sex can lead to pregnancy, and pregnancy leads to a baby, which the parents (grandparents of the baby) end up paying for (usually).
So for that reason, the age of consent should be directly tied to the person being able to support any child that results from sex. If they're 13, 14, 15, they are way too young and have have several years before they're an adult and can make adult decisions. So their parents must "pay" for their decision to have sex (by supporting the baby that may result from sex).
All males should have their sperm frozen and then have a vasectomy before having sex. This will deter unwanted pregnancy at young ages. Then when them and their wife is ready to conceive then get your sperm back from the bank or reverse the vasectomy.
This way teen 16 year olds will be less likely to get a girl pregnant. Plus it will eliminate so many abortions and unwanted pregnancies as adults as well. Jmo.
Btw. It may sound dumb. But if we tweek the idea just right than it may be doable in the future. Jmo
I think the issue with laws like this is that they're so black and white that they completely detach themselves from reality. Most see the age of consent as being 18, because that's when someone is legally an adult. Why is this? There's really no reason for 18 to be a significant number, outside of social custom. You're out of high school an in the real world. Well, at least sometimes. Some go to college and are backed by their parents money and are essentially unburdened with any responsibilities that they didn't already have in high school. Meaning, nothing's changed and there's no reason for them to be considered an adult yet.
And of course, 18 year olds are suddenly endowed with great reason. In fact, they're barely any less naive than a 16 year old. Plenty of young 18 and 19 year old girls get sucked into the amateur porn industry because they didn't think about the consequences going forward. This isn't because they're dumb, it's because they're young.
Biologically speaking, the brain isn't done developing until around the age of 26. One could reasonably argue that you aren't truly and adult until that time.
But when we're dealing with sex, we couldn't possibly suggest that 26 is the age of consent. Not when people as young as 10 start having sexual curiosity. No, there aren't many 10 year olds actually having sex, but don't think they aren't starting to be interested. It's part of puberty. They'll develop crushes and start getting hormonal and this will become more profound as they age.
You can't truly put a number on sexual maturity. The best we can do is guide young people in a direction of self respect so that when they are ready to have sex, they'll know how to do it property. For some, that could be quite young; young enough to make your grandmother faint. For others, it could be into their early to mid 20s.
As for age of consent, I'm fine with it being at 18. The concept of 'adulthood' is socially constructed, and we as a society agree that 18 is the number to which these responsibility become active. I would however recommend a less black and white outlook. We can all (I'd like to believe, but extreme conservatism has damaged our view on sexuality) agree that a 19 year old and a 17 year old can be in a healthy, respectful, and sexually active relationship. We don't need extremely rigid rules on the age of consent to protect younger people for sexual predators. It's not justice to charge a 19 year old as a rapist for having completely consensual relations with someone who, outside of the rigid social structure, has no reason to not have an interest in sex.
I think the consent age has more to do with avoiding situations where grown men and women think it's okay to hit on someone's 15 year old daughter. So 18 is okay with me as well.
Plus this would help teens have more knowledge on how to vet future sex partners rather than allowing older guys to manipulate them while they are still gullible and learning what type of person they want to be with.
Some men would love to be able to legally sleep with a 15 year old because they know that a 30 year old could see right through them and won't put up with their bs or sexual proclivities.
So in all honesty. Statutory rape should be 20 and under. Especially in the Middle East. Jmo
There are many factors. Sex with someone in own age gendre is different than having sex with twice older. I would say with own age 16, with older, 20. In cases of sexual using and abusing, there should not be age limits in a matter "you are old fart so deal with it" . Nobody should be legal meat (played into bed, abused etc.) just by hitting some certain age.
Some people are not ever ready to sex during their life time, some are earlier than 16.
Point is, age is not a factor to say to anyone: you are ready for sex, you are mature enough, you look curvy enough to have sex etc.
After some vaginal facts when it is able to have sex without injuries, maturity is inside head and for every individual, this age is different. Also situations and relationship and life experiences are involved.
There are many factors. Sex with someone in own age gendre is different than having sex with twice older. I would say with own age 16, with older, 20. In cases of sexual using and abusing, there should not be age limits in a matter "you are old fart so deal with it" . Nobody should be legal meat (played into bed, abused etc.) just by hitting some certain age.
Some people are not ever ready to sex during their life time, some are earlier than 16.
Point is, age is not a factor to say to anyone: you are ready for sex, you are mature enough, you look curvy enough to have sex etc.
After some vaginal facts when it is able to have sex without injuries, maturity is inside head and for every individual, this age is different. Also situations and relationship and life experiences are involved.
A 2 year age gap until the age of 20 may work. 15-17. 16-18. 17-19. 18-20. 19-21. 20 - whatever.
I would say there should be a standard age of consent at 17 or 18, with the following close in age laws:
People 14 through 16 can consent to an age difference of up to 15 calendar years older than them.
People that are age 12 and 13 can consent to an age difference of up to 4 calendar years older than them.
If it were up to me, these would be the laws I would impose:
Sexual activity with a person 14 through 16 and a defendant more than 15 calendar years older than the minor would be a misdemeanor of 6 to 24 months in jail.
Sexual activity with a person age 12 or 13 and a defendant more than 4 calendar years older could result in a felony sentence ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison and/or a 10 year registration as a sex offender.
Sexual activity with a person under 12 will result in up to 25 years in prison if the offender is at least 15, and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tia 914
I also believe if one individual is in a role of authority (teachers, etc.), intimate relationships are across-the-board wrong simply because of that role and regardless of the other person's age.
Also, an FYI: while it's not a very professional thing to do of someone in a position of trust or authority, like a teacher, it shouldn't be a crime as long as they are at least 18 which is a legal adult anyway. Some states do, actually, specify a separate age of consent in statute for people in a position of trust.
I have actually found it absurd that there are a few cases where teachers or professors have had statutory rape charges for having sex with students who were over 18, and legal adults. Since when has it been a crime for two legal adults to have sex?
Last edited by It is 57 below zero; 08-11-2015 at 02:40 AM..
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