this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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VERY few countries peg the age of consent at 18, mostly the hyper-conservative. Only 10 states in America and only Turkey in Europe. Not sure there's any countries in Africa or Asia.
This notion that a human goes from child to adult on their 18th birthday is truly bizarre to me. I was sexually active at 16 and the girl I lost my virginity to was 14. We weren't adults, in full command of our lives, but we sure as hell weren't children. At 17, my gf and I had sex almost daily, if we could manage it. And you would say we were children? Mighty developed and freaky children indeed!
The age of majority you're arguing is the age at which society deems one responsible enough to sign contracts, join the military, in short, be responsible for one's decisions. But to act like there's no in-between state is ludicrous.
Even weirder is people arguing, correctly, that sexuality, autism, etc., is on a spectrum. But our maturity is not? That idea goes against even the most base observations.
My daughter turns 13 next month. Last summer I was already seeing her flip between "child" and a more serious person, sometimes minute to minute. (Can't explain better, sorry.) Her brother is 10 and 100% child, no trace of maturity, as you would expect. By the time she is 14-15 she will be a wholly different person. But you would class her the same as a 10-yo?
It is certainly a big problem we have in the 21st century. Discrimination is a on thing we try to reduce yet this kind of discrimination, ageism, is put under the radar.
Several violations where made in spite of the Australian youth when they implemented that fascist law, human rights where disregarded and consent deemed as extremely important was deemed unnecessary. There where groups of youths from 13 to 15 which tried to combat that law, but as it stands the state recognised them as unable to think for themselves. This is one example where maturity was disregarded.
More scientifically, it is necessary to note that past the beginning of puberty, maturity is really not related to age rather than yourself and the way you actually perceive maturity as.
Age of consent =/= age of majority.
Age of consent does not demark the beginning of adulthood.
I didn't and wouldn't say it does! But the difference shows that almost every state in the planet recognizes that teenagers are not "children". It's insulting to them at best, detrimental at worst.
A radio host was bemoaning the fact that her 17-yo daughter made a fire in the fireplace while home alone. Host was pretty upset.
Caller: "Did she do it properly?"
Host: "Yes, perfectly! We taught her to make a safe fire. But she's a child! She has no business starting a fire without adults at home!"
I wanted to scream! In less than a year she can join the military, sign contracts, tell mom to fuck herself, go it alone, do everything but buy beer. And this is how you prepare her for adulthood?!
Sorry, the whole "child until 18" thing gets me bent. We're trying to train these people to be adults, yet at the same time we tell them they have no agency until they're 18, merely "children"? It's fucking insulting and harmful.
I think the most important thing is to recognize when one's children are transitioning from childhood into adulthood, and to provide them the means to do so in a good state. Education, contraception, social connections for job-hunting, shelter, emotional support, and so forth.
Quite honestly, the way USians just kick people out at 18 is arbitrary, and doesn't ensure their kids can become their best selves. Humans are no different from plants: existing without what is needed and helpful, just ends up letting nature take its worse course.
It really comes down to decision making skills. True, adults still struggle with that.
But the younger they are the worse that ability is.
Of course! I'm just mad at the simple-minded idea that there is no adolescence, only child or adult. The idea is ludicrous and harmful to the teens we're raising to be adults.
That seems to be you making that argument
i was raised that way, so it isnt just something they made up.