What SHOULD be the minimum age at which a person can legally consent to sexual activity?

Question

There was a question recently asked in this section which pertained to the NBC show "To Catch A Predator". I got me thinking... I wonder what everyone considers the "right time" to start consenting to sex. So... what age? Or should there even be a legal "age of consent"?

Answer 1

You have to be 18 to vote. You have to be 18 to be tried as an adult. You have to be 18 to legally smoke...etc etc etc.

If the eyes of the law does not see you as an adult until you are 18, then if a "legal age of consent" ever comes into play, I think it should be 18.

Sex is a "grown up" kind of decision to have to make. Too many "baby's are having baby's."

However, just like smoking and drinking, most do not pay attention to the whole "legality" of it any way. An "age of consent" law would be ignored just like all the other laws are ignored.

If you don't want your children having sex at a young age, educate them. Don't just give them the "this is where babies come from" speech, truly educate our children on how important "the right time to have sex" is. Keep an honest and open relationship with your children. If their not afraid to talk to you, or not afraid of your reaction to THEIR decisions, you will have a child more willing to listen to you and take to heart the advise you give them.

Bright Blessings )O(

Answer 2

Very good question.

The domination of the female from a young age is common, not only though out history, but around the world today.

Most common, strangely enough, in strongly religious societies.

It is less common in strongly secular societies.

If sex were more an open and natural activity, where boys and girls were educated at an early age about it, the risks, the fun, the complications, etc, then they would be much better prepared at what ever age they began.

I am not sure that there is a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Of course the Law says that there is, because the Law is a simpleton.

We seem unable to find a satisfactory model for young sexual behavior, and would just as rather not have to deal with it at all.

I do find this prosecution of older women teachers who seduce their younger male students a ludicrous miscarriage of justice, as I remember praying for that very thing with all my heart.

I am not sure that the other way around is such a good idea though.

Maybe to let the young decide for themselves when they are ready, and for what, by filling out a questionaire every year or six months from the age of 12 or 13 up to the age of 18.

Then any activies that fell outside of those permissions would be proscecutable by law.

I don't know why the young can not contribute to this discussion themselves.

Some, like my 14 year old daughter, who wants nothing to do with boys (yet) would just put no on every question, and it would certainly clarify any he-said-she-said situations.

Answer 3

This is such a hard question because there's so much gray area. The point of a legal age of consent is to protect children before they are emotionally ready to make that kind of decision, but the age of emotional maturity is different for everyone. I read about one case where an 18 year old boy got a 2 year prison sentence for having (cosensual) sex with his 16 year old girlfriend. Civil rights groups are protesting his sentence, but so far he's still in prison.
Even if the legal age is lowered, it's still a hard law to enforce. If the legal age is 16, does that mean that a 16 year old should be punished for having cosensual sex with a 15 year old? Even if the 15 year old was the one who brought up the idea first?
I would say that the legal age should be somewhere between 14 and 16, but in these cases the court also needs to take into account the age difference between the two people involved.

Answer 4

In Canada the legal age is 14, provided both partners are under 18. If one of the partners is over 18 it gets a little murky.

Personally I think that the age of consent should be a combination of physical and emotional maturity, the willingness to accept the reponsibility of being sexually active. I'm not sure what age exactly that should be, or even if it's possible to establish a universal benchmark.

Fortunately I'm attracted to older women, so such heavy philosophical/ethical considerations don't apply to me in a practical sense :)

Answer 5

Well I suppose if there has to be one it oughta be at least puberty.
I sound blasé, I know, but it's more that I'm annoyed at the predators for whom this law is made ... who have ruined 'it' for the young.

If people of like age played with each other I can't see there being a problem as long as they're educated - EDUCATED with TRUTH stuff from an early age like five.
I've heard other places where god-botherers have said that a condom won't stop pregnancy or AIDS and other STDs which are out and out LIES.
In fact, I've heard more lies in general come from god-botherers than any other segment of society.
I wonder why that is.
I suppose believing there’s an invisible guy in the sky is the first lie you tell yourself and the rest follows on naturally.

Answer 6

The age of consent is the age in which a person may engage legally in sexual things. This age varies upon country and state in which you live. In the USA the age is as low as 12 in some states and 18 in others. Just will depend upon where you live. Also the age can vary depending upon your sex and even your sexual orientation.

Answer 7

There should be a legal age of consent. It should based on the person, but that would be much to hard to do. When you put in physical maturity (between 15 and 20), sexual maturity (between 12 and 18), emotional maturity (between 18 and 99), you would have to have an arbitrary age at which contractual consent can be given.

Since it is federal law that only an 18 year old or older can have contractual consent, all state laws should be over-ridden and 18 should be made the age of sexual consent, also.

Answer 8

I think the law should be changed to say a person can't have sex with someone more than 5 years younger than themselves until that person reaches 18 (and no sex if the person is under 15). That way, if a senior in high school wanted to date a freshman, they could legally engage in sexual activity.

IMO, it is stupid to put an 18 year old kid in jail for having sex with a 15, 16, or 17 year old. If a 16 year old can have sex with another 16 year old, then why can't an 18 year old have sex with a 16 year old? If anything, a 16 year old boy is probably less able to control his impulses than an 18 year old.

Answer 9

i put it this way.

there should be 3 age categories.

1, 18 and over. Adults with Adults, no problem.

2, 16-17, in this age range it is very tricky. most would say a 2 year window. but i can see problems with that...

3, 15 and under. definately no legal consent with an adult.
possibly with persons of their own age or in a 1 year window.


the whole thing is tricky.

when i was 17 i was dateing a 19 year old woman. and that seemed pretty acceptable.

however if we back that up 2 years to me being 15 and her being 17 it gets a little murky.

and if we reverse the ages to me being 17 and her being 15. then it starts to sound really creepy.

Answer 10

Yes, I think there should be a legal age of consent. 18 works for me, as that's when a person is legally considered an adult. One would hope by that time, a person is mature enough to make good decisions about his or her sex life, whether it's to be responsibly active or to abstain. We can also continue to protect minors from predatory adults.