Age of consent

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  <page>
    <title>Age of consent</title>
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      <timestamp>2013-11-05T23:38:07Z</timestamp>
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      <comment>Created page with "The Age of Consent is a legal definition of the age at which a child may consent to sexual activity while not having reached the age of majority.    In the United States it is..."</comment>
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      <text bytes="693" sha1="1k4phgw5r8v3dyz0wqtgvngzw31esf5" xml:space="preserve">The Age of Consent is a legal definition of the age at which a child may consent to sexual activity while not having reached the age of majority.  

In the United States it is determined by each State and ranges from 18 to 14. The age of consent does not always coincide with the marriageable age, anyone married may consent. 

The age of consent applies to the charge of [[statutory rape]] where two people have sex although one is below the age required for consent. There are some allowances for the ages of the people involved. If the ages are within one or two years then no prosecution or a lesser offense may apply. 


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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      <text bytes="697" sha1="fa7pbdmwqc7ta13l0aloo5wa9xlox2i" xml:space="preserve">The Age of Consent is a legal definition of the age at which a child may consent to sexual activity while not having reached the age of majority.  

In the United States it is determined by each State and ranges from 18 to 14. The age of consent does not always coincide with the marriageable age, but anyone married may consent. 

The age of consent applies to the charge of [[statutory rape]] where two people have sex although one is below the age required for consent. There are some allowances for the ages of the people involved. If the ages are within one or two years then no prosecution or a lesser offense may apply. 


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}</text>
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      <text bytes="715" sha1="ighodjvww4p343tyxvzf2rbhjz9w7a9" xml:space="preserve">The Age of Consent is a legal definition of the age at which an individual may consent to sexual activity while not having reached the age of majority.  

==The US==

In the United States it is determined by each State and ranges from 18 to 14. The age of consent does not always coincide with the marriageable age, but anyone married may consent. 

The age of consent applies to the charge of [[statutory rape]] where two people have sex although one is below the age required for consent. There are some allowances for the ages of the people involved. If the ages are within one or two years then no prosecution or a lesser offense may apply. 


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}</text>
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        <username>Spud</username>
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      <comment>Categories, links, cosmetic changes.</comment>
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      <text bytes="772" sha1="gayjqekz9aldoa7zs0a7s2pu96mjhw7" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual may consent to [[Sex|sexual activity]] while not having reached the age of majority.  

==The US==
In the [[United States]] it is determined by each state and ranges from 18 to 14. The age of consent does not always coincide with the marriageable age, but anyone married may consent. 

The age of consent applies to the charge of [[statutory rape]] where two people have sex although one is below the age required for consent. There are some allowances for the ages of the people involved. If the ages are within one or two years then no prosecution or a lesser offense may apply. 


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <timestamp>2014-03-11T06:22:58Z</timestamp>
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        <ip>71.170.110.181</ip>
      </contributor>
      <comment>16 is the lowest AoC in the US. There's cases in various states where someone who is 14 is legal, but these are Romeo &amp; Juliet laws that are dependent on other factors.</comment>
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      <text bytes="772" sha1="osw9jiec79bvksl6f8vojfxdxqw7a2e" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual may consent to [[Sex|sexual activity]] while not having reached the age of majority.  

==The US==
In the [[United States]] it is determined by each state and ranges from 18 to 16. The age of consent does not always coincide with the marriageable age, but anyone married may consent. 

The age of consent applies to the charge of [[statutory rape]] where two people have sex although one is below the age required for consent. There are some allowances for the ages of the people involved. If the ages are within one or two years then no prosecution or a lesser offense may apply. 


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>osw9jiec79bvksl6f8vojfxdxqw7a2e</sha1>
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      <timestamp>2014-06-13T14:11:16Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <ip>81.99.126.231</ip>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Added a little bit about the range of ages in the rest of the world. *Slightly* less stubby article now.</comment>
      <origin>1331920</origin>
      <model>wikitext</model>
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      <text bytes="907" sha1="qr29tpigwmnk2saa24xaofzoo4lovy6" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual may consent to [[Sex|sexual activity]] while not having reached the age of majority.  

==The US==
In the [[United States]] it is determined by each state and ranges from 18 to 16. The age of consent does not always coincide with the marriageable age, but anyone married may consent. 

The age of consent applies to the charge of [[statutory rape]] where two people have sex although one is below the age required for consent. There are some allowances for the ages of the people involved. If the ages are within one or two years then no prosecution or a lesser offense may apply. 

==The rest of the world==
Ages of consent vary wildly in the rest of the world, from 12 in countries such as Angola, to 21 in Bahrain.


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
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      <comment>Still a bit stubby but I'm working on it</comment>
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      <text bytes="1214" sha1="t40gxgue0cqhsxiye2ox94s8i72uxip" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Below that age and apparent consent is not valid and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola to over twenty one in Bahrain. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the ageo of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships


== References==
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>t40gxgue0cqhsxiye2ox94s8i72uxip</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>1350245</id>
      <parentid>1350244</parentid>
      <timestamp>2014-07-26T21:47:59Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Ref</comment>
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      <text bytes="1318" sha1="ebhm9bnbe6f5z8n0o0kns1od5902yss" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Below that age and apparent consent is not valid and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the ageo of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships


== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>ebhm9bnbe6f5z8n0o0kns1od5902yss</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>1350246</id>
      <parentid>1350245</parentid>
      <timestamp>2014-07-26T21:50:37Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Another ref</comment>
      <origin>1350246</origin>
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      <text bytes="1420" sha1="890ogsr94mr1npvb5yly9mij5abljjg" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Below that age and apparent consent is not valid and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the ageo of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships


== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>890ogsr94mr1npvb5yly9mij5abljjg</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>1350247</id>
      <parentid>1350246</parentid>
      <timestamp>2014-07-26T21:52:18Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>I'll make an article of this yet</comment>
      <origin>1350247</origin>
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      <text bytes="1458" sha1="qmfsza15o9b1to3n1yfqx7nr28dlf7b" xml:space="preserve">The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Below that age and apparent consent is not valid and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the ageo of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships


== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>qmfsza15o9b1to3n1yfqx7nr28dlf7b</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1350248</id>
      <parentid>1350247</parentid>
      <timestamp>2014-07-26T21:53:44Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Templating (sorry about the Ken type editing</comment>
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      <text bytes="1466" sha1="7zvy4l7falma2akm5lpo2ppgw44ec4o" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Below that age and apparent consent is not valid and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the ageo of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships


== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>7zvy4l7falma2akm5lpo2ppgw44ec4o</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>1350249</id>
      <parentid>1350248</parentid>
      <timestamp>2014-07-26T21:54:23Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
      </contributor>
      <minor/>
      <comment>/* The Grey areas */ typo</comment>
      <origin>1350249</origin>
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      <text bytes="1464" sha1="ix8n52a1re4bxu1phku690fwk57tm43" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Below that age and apparent consent is not valid and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>ix8n52a1re4bxu1phku690fwk57tm43</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1350252</id>
      <parentid>1350249</parentid>
      <timestamp>2014-07-26T21:57:43Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Sprocket J Cogswell</username>
        <id>2981</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>why should you have all the fun?</comment>
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      <text bytes="1473" sha1="d9vxgigwdyxvk3n4ntctj805l4w360w" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <contributor>
        <username>Doxys Midnight Runner</username>
        <id>34005</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* The Grey areas */ Another ref</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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        <username>PBustion87</username>
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{{delete|Off mission}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>jxi4jrb3rovp9fv06e9fc52zj5cpz4n</sha1>
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      <timestamp>2015-03-11T15:37:35Z</timestamp>
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        <username>Hipocrite</username>
        <id>3654</id>
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      <comment>Follow the template rules</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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[[Category:Sexuality]]
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        <username>FuzzyCatPotato</username>
        <id>17041</id>
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      <comment>Undo revision 1437344 by [[Special:Contributions/Hipocrite|Hipocrite]] ([[User talk:Hipocrite|talk]]) I did it for him</comment>
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{{delete|Off mission}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>jxi4jrb3rovp9fv06e9fc52zj5cpz4n</sha1>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>8ctn88yvypaetiddeqfndmad6hj3u7k</sha1>
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      <id>1537100</id>
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      <timestamp>2015-09-28T16:24:39Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>AOAPJM</username>
        <id>48626</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>+ See also</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over twenty one in Bahrain&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>1569833</id>
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        <username>Bongolian</username>
        <id>31715</id>
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      <comment>links</comment>
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      <text bytes="1736" sha1="q4tbuv9b9quod47gdra9mg1la6heg6y" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 13 in [[Spain]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>q4tbuv9b9quod47gdra9mg1la6heg6y</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1616009</id>
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      <timestamp>2016-01-27T21:57:14Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Advicedoge</username>
        <id>49332</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>The age of consent is no longer 13 in Spain.  As of 2015, it has risen to 16.</comment>
      <origin>1616009</origin>
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      <text bytes="1761" sha1="qaut3whk5gd2s34r2y6kjv368bbax97" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==The Grey areas==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>qaut3whk5gd2s34r2y6kjv368bbax97</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1616013</id>
      <parentid>1616009</parentid>
      <timestamp>2016-01-27T22:04:49Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Advicedoge</username>
        <id>49332</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* The Grey areas */</comment>
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      <text bytes="2283" sha1="g13mhcowcife6p5snpfx82lqog2keg6" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>1627243</id>
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      <timestamp>2016-02-13T17:06:44Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Plutoniumboss</username>
        <id>49886</id>
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      <text bytes="2986" sha1="qcma0o8npf3flvj88zydg856gklnc3l" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
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[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwsie the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are often vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent). This argument is related to the previous two arguments listed.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are often vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent). This argument is related to the previous two arguments listed.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are often vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over. This argument is often used by conservative [[men's rights]] supporters and their [[femiservative]] co-opters, and is related to the previous two arguments listed.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent).&lt;ref&gt;For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India. The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16 and 18 by every state in the union (with the exception of Georgia) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged prostitution because, once a young woman had been seduced, society left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the U.K., the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16.&lt;ref&gt;This law also criminalized gay sex as "gross indecency"; Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent).&lt;ref&gt;For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. [[Brunei]] is an example of this
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India. The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16 and 18 by every state in the union (with the exception of Georgia) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged prostitution because, once a young woman had been seduced, society left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the U.K., the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16.&lt;ref&gt;This law also criminalized gay sex as "gross indecency"; Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent).&lt;ref&gt;For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==

While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]]. In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "why can't I fuck teenagers" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it.  It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India. The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16 and 18 by every state in the union (with the exception of Georgia) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged prostitution because, once a young woman had been seduced, society left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the U.K., the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16.&lt;ref&gt;This law also criminalized gay sex as "gross indecency"; Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent).&lt;ref&gt;For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In Europe it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a Libertarian, you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16 and 18 by every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the marriage age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The Woman Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16 and 18 by every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
&lt;references/&gt;
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
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[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
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[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Proptip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Age of consent]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Age of consent]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments for the age of consent==
Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>nlw2jkaeldtxapq58kgtrfgeb7feyuk</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>1758866</id>
      <parentid>1758739</parentid>
      <timestamp>2016-11-23T22:29:38Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>CheeseburgerFace</username>
        <id>52492</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* Common arguments for the age of consent */</comment>
      <origin>1758866</origin>
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      <text bytes="7777" sha1="bff8qfvnxnggd91769z1xcxwvchcpqd" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

Tl;dr: The person is a pedophile

*'''Age does not reflect maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates, even a person above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human right''': As human beings, &lt;s&gt;adults have the right to have sex with kids&lt;/s&gt; kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''[Insert any other argument against age of consent here]''': The person is a pedophile.{{nofact}}

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>1758867</id>
      <parentid>1758866</parentid>
      <timestamp>2016-11-23T22:33:12Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Applesauce</username>
        <id>52132</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>I'll take blatant strawmanning and Jonanism for 200, Alex! Also, I am not a pedophile and I think it should be abolished.</comment>
      <origin>1758867</origin>
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      <text bytes="7743" sha1="gmwbpsgvbv60neytoo2kd12vh8tvd0l" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age does not reflect maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates, even a person above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human right''': As human beings, &lt;s&gt;adults have the right to have sex with kids&lt;/s&gt; kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''[Insert any other argument against age of consent here]''': The person is a pedophile.{{nofact}}

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>gmwbpsgvbv60neytoo2kd12vh8tvd0l</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1758868</id>
      <parentid>1758867</parentid>
      <timestamp>2016-11-23T22:35:15Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Applesauce</username>
        <id>52132</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Everyone who advocates for this position isn't an evil baddie. Come on</comment>
      <origin>1758868</origin>
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      <text bytes="7760" sha1="smagkd93gu2q4bvkgckmb6fk75ilxqx" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age does not reflect maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <timestamp>2016-11-23T22:39:31Z</timestamp>
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        <username>Applesauce</username>
        <id>52132</id>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive. (Apparently an imbalanced adult relationship is perfectly legal)
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt; (the fact that different provinces and countries can't seem to agree on what this age is might clue you in that this argument is [[bullshit]])
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age does not reflect maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive. (Apparently an imbalanced adult relationship is perfectly legal)
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt; (the fact that different provinces and countries can't seem to agree on what this age is might clue you in that this argument is [[bullshit]])
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age does not reflect maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.)

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive. (Apparently an imbalanced adult relationship is perfectly legal)
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt; (the fact that different provinces and countries can't seem to agree on what this age is might clue you in that this argument is [[bullshit]])
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive. (Apparently an imbalanced adult relationship is perfectly legal)
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt; (the fact that different provinces and countries can't seem to agree on what this age is might clue you in that this argument is [[bullshit]])
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>1758891</id>
      <parentid>1758878</parentid>
      <timestamp>2016-11-24T00:14:37Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Annquin</username>
        <id>50197</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* Against */ Arguments about autonomy, informed decision-making, and access to information and treatment/contraception</comment>
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      <text bytes="9541" sha1="fjr3obbeogc1k74a5hfo8wtoceavr8k" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive. (Apparently an imbalanced adult relationship is perfectly legal)
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt; (the fact that different provinces and countries can't seem to agree on what this age is might clue you in that this argument is [[bullshit]])
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>fjr3obbeogc1k74a5hfo8wtoceavr8k</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1758932</id>
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      <timestamp>2016-11-24T03:51:59Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Reverend Black Percy</username>
        <id>48562</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* For */ Talk about straw manning</comment>
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      <text bytes="9333" sha1="mmsdtwdmh5ko5219k5zmjxqej34rj6w" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub}}
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <comment>not a stub. if it needs expansion, tag it with {{expand}}</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent are:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===

Some of the most common arguments for the age of consent:
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===

*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <id>1802134</id>
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      <contributor>
        <username>LeftyGreenMario</username>
        <id>27352</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* Common arguments about the age of consent */ actually, this points out what's already stated: in the header</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].{{Fact}} In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>3i9nvb6wfkkbgj4futf95uc9jp86096</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>1802233</id>
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      <timestamp>2017-03-10T03:54:55Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>LeftyGreenMario</username>
        <id>27352</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>this is what I can find, but if there are official sources, then that would be great.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.ageofconsent.net/world]&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>c0lvw81fz6xs5sgvuvg3iwaaaizy0k0</sha1>
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      <id>1807056</id>
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      <comment>/* Common arguments about the age of consent */ "Young people" is more appropriate in this case.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.ageofconsent.net/world]&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, young people should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>1807104</id>
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      <timestamp>2017-03-26T10:48:28Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Christopher</username>
        <id>53276</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Undo revision 1807056 by [[Special:Contributions/Advicedoge|Advicedoge]] ([[User talk:Advicedoge|talk]]) making it [[balance fallacy|less "neutral"]]</comment>
      <origin>1807104</origin>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.ageofconsent.net/world]&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html]&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>c0lvw81fz6xs5sgvuvg3iwaaaizy0k0</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>1941761</id>
      <parentid>1807104</parentid>
      <timestamp>2018-04-01T13:04:46Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Spud</username>
        <id>6649</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Separating notes from references. Two columns for the references and no little blue numbers in them.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.ageofconsent.net/world]&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>1941762</id>
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      <timestamp>2018-04-01T13:05:50Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Spud</username>
        <id>6649</id>
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      <comment>I missed a little blue number.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty (about 10–11 years for girls and 11–12 for boys, but maybe being at least 11 is an addition requirement) in the Mexican federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden (article 258). "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty (about 10–11 years for girls and 11–12 for boys, but maybe being at least 11 is an addition requirement) in the Mexican federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty (about 10–11 years for girls and 11–12 for boys, but maybe being at least 11 is an additional requirement) in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <comment>Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/178.11.82.73|178.11.82.73]] ([[User talk:178.11.82.73|talk]]) to last revision by [[User:Spud|Spud]]</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Anarcho-capitalism|Anarcho-capitalists]] tend to come back to "Why can't I fuck minors?" with a [[NAMBLA|distressing regularity]]. It's like they never heard of the phrase 'pick your battles.' ''Protip'': If you are a [[Libertarian]], you should try to steer the conversation ''away'' from age of consent. It's like the #3 or #4 go-to topic and they seem really eager to debate it.&lt;ref&gt;[http://majority.fm/2015/02/11/211-sam-seder-v-walter-block-round-2/#  Sam Seder v. Walter Block Round Deux]. Sam didn't initiate it. It went from Sam talking about arbitrariness of property rights to Block lamenting that in some cases totally DTF 14 year olds are not legally able to get it on with adults.&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from 12 in Angola&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fosigrid.org/africa/angola widely reported but this source says 14]&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in Malta and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty (about 10–11 years for girls and 11–12 for boys, but maybe being at least 11 is an additional requirement) in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;(around age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, but often earlier or later by a few years)&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Malta]] and [[Turkey]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/world&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;(around age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, but often earlier or later by a few years)&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;(around age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, but often earlier or later by a few years)&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

The reality is that the harm lowering the age of consent outweighs any argument supporting lowering the age of consent.

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>gy8egzab0ag1c9hnnrvdsi2m5xfrgco</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>2002303</id>
      <parentid>2001930</parentid>
      <timestamp>2018-10-16T20:09:08Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Advicedoge</username>
        <id>49332</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Undo revision 2001930 by [[Special:Contributions/Micky12|Micky12]] ([[User talk:Micky12|talk]])  From what age to what age?  Regardless, no source was given.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;(around age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, but often earlier or later by a few years)&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to over 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>2002306</id>
      <parentid>2002303</parentid>
      <timestamp>2018-10-16T20:22:28Z</timestamp>
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        <username>Advicedoge</username>
        <id>49332</id>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called [[statutory rape]]. 

The age varies wildly across the world ranging from begin of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;(around age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, but often earlier or later by a few years)&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of Nayarit&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt;. In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries such as [[Germany]] to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies state by state within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in Delaware), and 10 in India.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and Woman's [[Christian]] [[Temperance]] Union, was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state in the Union (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]] because once a young woman had been seduced [[society]] left her no choice but to become a prostitute.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the Labouchere Amendment, passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and Alan Turing were both prosecuted under this law.) The Holy See also changed its age of consent laws from 12 to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]] following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument".

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates: some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of pregnancy, STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are several areas where such sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape case to be dismissed. An example was Virginia (before the law changed in 2008).&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age limit may be even higher than the official age of consent, such as
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <id>2165916</id>
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      <timestamp>2020-03-14T10:00:32Z</timestamp>
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        <ip>47.146.63.87</ip>
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      <comment>Some revisions, links</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates; some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Shakers|Though]] [[Gnostics|some]] [[Heaven's Gate|groups]] {{wpl|Antisexualism|have tried|!}}]]&lt;/ref&gt;, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <comment>Really? "Since sex can't be banned entirely, may as well legalize all of it"? Bruh. "Since rape can't be banned entirely,...?" Yeah, no, you'd cringe. I'm cringing at this rn. Don't say that.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful.
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': This is a common philosophical justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over. Then again, in most of human history, opposition to homosexuality was the norm, so maybe this website doesn't want to use that as a standard.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual innocence.

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful.
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': This is a common philosophical justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual innocence.

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful.
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen. As established above, this abusive relationship is not motivated by love, and instead revolves around sex.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': This is a common philosophical justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual innocence.

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates; some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Shakers|Though]] [[Gnostics|some]] [[Heaven's Gate|groups]] {{wpl|Antisexualism|have tried|!}}]]&lt;/ref&gt;, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <minor/>
      <comment>Protected "[[Age of consent]]": Counter-productive edit warring (take it to [[Talk:Age of consent|the talkpage]]) ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (expires 21:14, 11 November 2020 (UTC)) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (expires 21:14, 11 No...</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates; some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Shakers|Though]] [[Gnostics|some]] [[Heaven's Gate|groups]] {{wpl|Antisexualism|have tried|!}}]]&lt;/ref&gt;, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <comment>If you dislike the changes, please revert and tell me why. I have a detailed explanation in talk that talks about my reasoning, and I'm willing to converse.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]
* [[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <id>2244046</id>
      <parentid>2244039</parentid>
      <timestamp>2020-11-12T00:58:14Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Summa Atheologica</username>
        <id>61948</id>
      </contributor>
      <minor/>
      <comment>Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/ThisSiteRuxExDee2|ThisSiteRuxExDee2]] ([[User talk:ThisSiteRuxExDee2|talk]]) to last revision by [[User:CircularReasoning|CircularReasoning]]</comment>
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      <text bytes="11109" sha1="mlzzuvmheolvdqpg3z9n7snfghlpthf" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Age Does Not Reflect Maturity''': Individuals mature at different rates; some people above the age of consent may not be mature enough for a relationship, whereas some people below the age may fully understand what they're getting into. Since sex can't be banned entirely&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Shakers|Though]] [[Gnostics|some]] [[Heaven's Gate|groups]] {{wpl|Antisexualism|have tried|!}}]]&lt;/ref&gt;, it might as well be legal for all.&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Human Right''': As human beings, kids should have the freedom to have sex with adults if they so choose&lt;ref name="debate"&gt;http://debatewise.org/debates/2769-age-of-consent-lowering-of/&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Conflict between protection and autonomy''': Protective measures deny the agency of individuals and can interfere with the ability of individuals to take control of their own reproductive capacity and sexual health, when autonomy and informed decision-making form the best route towards long-term health and well-being.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/userfiles/file/ippf_coram_final_inception-report_eng_web.pdf Qualitative research on legal barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services], International Planned Parenthood Federation&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>2244052</id>
      <parentid>2244046</parentid>
      <timestamp>2020-11-12T01:24:57Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Hastur</username>
        <id>5432</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>Undo revision 2244046 by [[Special:Contributions/Summa Atheologica|Summa Atheologica]] take it to the talk page</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/BAHRAIN/Law but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.ageofconsent.us/&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/collections/gender-legal-history/glh-summary.cfm?glhID=6727D7B5-F67C-9711-C8AD301CBC90AD39&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/press/jennifer-mcclellan-virginias-child-marriage-laws-cry-out-reform-0&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]
* [[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <id>2244065</id>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of [[puberty]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The [[social purity movement]], which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily [[unmarried sex]] (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]
* [[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). (For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.)
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument". (Obviously, men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're [[sissy]] losers because real men don't have feelings.)

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], [[STI]], and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]
* [[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}). 

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

=== For ===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).

=== Against ===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

== See also ==
* [[Informed consent]]
* [[Online pedophile activism]]
* [[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>2482249</id>
      <parentid>2431781</parentid>
      <timestamp>2022-09-03T19:56:58Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>BumblingBuffoon</username>
        <id>86735</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>What constitutes a 'common' argument? All I know of age of consent debates is that they're usually not informed by expert opinion.</comment>
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      <text bytes="10545" sha1="ibjkz6lg5ip402k8goqi2sjwztday2v" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>2482251</id>
      <parentid>2482249</parentid>
      <timestamp>2022-09-03T20:10:22Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>BumblingBuffoon</username>
        <id>86735</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>/* History */</comment>
      <origin>2482251</origin>
      <model>wikitext</model>
      <format>text/x-wiki</format>
      <text bytes="11044" sha1="rll92r985dbx2emb0p65ha2xxgnebna" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least, in 2013 the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least, in 2013 the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea. Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least, in 2013 the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt;{{efn|If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea. Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref&gt;https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/&lt;/ref&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least, in 2013 the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under-11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258 ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]] it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]] it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group="note"&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least, in 2013 the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then coerce them to marry their rapist in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]] the age of consent is 16 but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>2584467</id>
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        <ip>2601:58D:301:5870:C118:A391:311C:3227</ip>
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      <comment>/* For */</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>nn43o992v4bvxdnehbir56fqaj8rryp</sha1>
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    <revision>
      <id>2651884</id>
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      <timestamp>2024-05-25T00:48:31Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <ip>2600:8800:8809:1C00:6067:1568:DBE9:BC7F</ip>
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      <comment>I have no idea what the banjo music means. Is it a praise of pedophilia-related things? If it is, then the banjo music is a bad thing.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>sse59xw0982e9y44tyxqokkryzzv5nc</sha1>
    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>2651891</id>
      <parentid>2651884</parentid>
      <timestamp>2024-05-25T01:29:22Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>BobJohnson</username>
        <id>96844</id>
      </contributor>
      <comment>*Temporary* undo revision 2651884 - That reference is a "hurr hurr look at the pedo incestial rednecks" joke, likely stemming from the banjo music scene in the movie Deliverance (whose depiction of rural folk remains controversial). IMHO it's a dumb joke and I support removing it (after this comment).</comment>
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      <text bytes="11656" sha1="nn43o992v4bvxdnehbir56fqaj8rryp" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;*cue banjo music*&lt;/ref&gt;) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>2651892</id>
      <parentid>2651891</parentid>
      <timestamp>2024-05-25T01:29:34Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>BobJohnson</username>
        <id>96844</id>
      </contributor>
      <minor/>
      <comment>Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/BobJohnson|BobJohnson]] ([[User talk:BobJohnson|talk]]) to last revision by [[User:2600:8800:8809:1C00:6067:1568:DBE9:BC7F|2600:8800:8809:1C00:6067:1568:DBE9:BC7F]]</comment>
      <origin>2651884</origin>
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      <format>text/x-wiki</format>
      <text bytes="11617" sha1="sse59xw0982e9y44tyxqokkryzzv5nc" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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        <ip>2600:8800:8809:1C00:20E6:9466:E4DF:5EF0</ip>
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      <comment>Revised and rewrote this page. Also, I removed a pointer that argues in favor of lowering the age of consent; just because it decriminalizes activity with minors, doesn't mean that said activity isn't morally wrong.</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. The age of consent is 18 years old. "Consent" given by minors, individuals below that age (including but not limited to newborns, infants, babies, toddlers, children, preteens, prepubescent children, adolescents, teenagers, etc.), is not valid, and the sexual act is considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

Again, it should be noted that legality and morality are not the same. Even if the age of consent was lowered, it's still morally wrong to engage in any sexual activity with or behave sexually towards any minor, because any and all minors are unable to consent. Also, never do anything bad or harmful to anyone who is innocent, and even if they aren't innocent, the punishment has to be equal to the crime or misdeed, not worse than it.

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==
===For===
The following arguments in this section explain the reasons why there is a legal age of consent, and why it is morally wrong to engage in any sexual activity with or behave sexually towards anyone who is under the age of 18. Again, it should be noted that legality and morality are not the same. Even if the age of consent was lowered, it's still morally wrong to engage in any sexual activity with or behave sexually towards any minor, because any and all minors are unable to consent. Also, never do anything bad or harmful to anyone who is innocent, and even if they aren't innocent, the punishment has to be equal to the crime or misdeed, not worse than it.

*'''Minors can't consent''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex. Given that the minor's brain is underdeveloped and continues the process of development, anyone under the age of 18 lacks the cognitive skills and mental development that are required for the capability to fully understand what sex is. Because anyone under the age of 18 can't consent, this means that acting sexually towards any minor (e.g. engaging in any sexual activity with any minor) is inherently a violation of the minor's body and boundaries.&lt;!-- NOTE: DO NOT CLAIM THAT THE BRAIN NEVER STOPS DEVELOPING, BECAUSE THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE BRAIN IS NOT DEVELOPED ENOUGH FOR HUMANS TO BE ABLE TO CONSENT UNTIL THEY ARE 18 YEARS OLD; ALSO, HUMANS MAKING CHOICES ON THEIR OWN SUCH AS DRIVING, VOTING, ETC. AND BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE (AND NO, PUNISHMENT SHOULDN'T BE WORSE THAN THE CRIME OR MISDEED, IT HAS TO BE EQUAL TO IT) ARE NOT THE SAME AS HAVING THEIR BODIES BE VIOLATED BY OTHERS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. --&gt;
*'''Imbalance in power''': There is an imbalance in power between the other person and the minor. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''Harm''': Any and all sexual behavior towards a minor or sexual activity between another person and a minor inherently leads to harm and psychological damage for the younger person, because the other person has violated the minor's body and boundaries. Other effects experienced by minors as a result of anyone acting sexually towards them (e.g. another person engaging in any sexual activity with any minor) include but are not limited to [[post-traumatic stress disorder]], complex post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, physical pain, physical injuries and death, among others.
*'''Pre-adulthood pregnancy''': Another result of sexual activity between a minor and another person is said minor becoming pregnant. This result is a problem because a minor is not mature, responsible or mentally developed enough to raise any child of their own.
*'''"The adult only wants one thing"''': Another reason why it is a bad thing that anyone behaves sexually towards any minor or engages in any sexual activity with any minor is because the other person is only interested in behaving sexually towards or engaging in any sexual activity with any minor.
*'''Failure to respect the minor as a person at all''': Another reason why it is a bad thing that anyone behaves sexually towards any minor or engages in any sexual activity with any minor is because the other person is only interested in the minor as a minor, rather than as a person.
*'''Unmarried sex with a minor is wrong''': Another reason why it is a morally bad thing that any adult engages in any sexual activity with any minor is that it is unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''Innocent minor''': Anyone under the age of consent is sexually innocent. Sexual activity with or sexual behavior towards a minor represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The minor will later regret it''': This can also be described as "The minor will regret pre-adulthood sex". This argument argues that any minor, whom another person has engaged in sexual activity with or behaved sexually towards, will later regret it. Thus, it only further proves that sexual activity between another person and a minor and behaving sexually towards a minor is sexual abuse or molestation.

===Against===
This section not only lists but also debunks any argument against the legal age of consent that pedophiles, pedophile sympathizers, sex offenders, child predators, etc. will bring up.

*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': Some argue that "the age of consent should be lowered because minors are reluctant to seek or offer advice", even though minors are reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions are possibly illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals are possibly reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''"Lowering the Age of Consent Will Decriminalize Many Minors' Actions"''': Just because it decriminalizes behaving sexually towards any minor and engaging in any sexual activity with any minor, doesn't mean that these actions aren't harmful to children. Again, legality is not the same as morality.

==Legal exceptions==
For the third time, it should be noted that legality and morality are not the same. Even if the age of consent was lowered, it's still morally wrong to engage in any sexual activity with or behave sexually towards any minor, because any and all minors are unable to consent. Also, never do anything bad or harmful to anyone who is innocent, and even if they aren't innocent, the punishment has to be equal to the crime or misdeed, not worse than it.

While far from universal, there are, unfortunately, situations where sexual activity involving or sexual behavior towards anyone under the age of 18 is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both the minor and the other person are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both Romeo and Juliet commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This mistakenly assumes that a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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      <contributor>
        <username>Plutocow</username>
        <id>80720</id>
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      <minor/>
      <comment>Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/2600:8800:8809:1C00:20E6:9466:E4DF:5EF0|2600:8800:8809:1C00:20E6:9466:E4DF:5EF0]] ([[User talk:2600:8800:8809:1C00:20E6:9466:E4DF:5EF0|talk]]) to last revision by [[User:BobJohnson|BobJohnson]]</comment>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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        <id>80720</id>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

&lt;!--
===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".--&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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        <username>Plutocow</username>
        <id>80720</id>
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The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Common arguments about the age of consent==

===For===
*'''The Imbalance In Power Argument''': There is an imbalance in power between the adult and teen. This imbalance in power means that the relationship is inherently abusive.
*'''The Harm Argument''': Sex between an adult and a teenager leads to inherent harm and psychological damage for the younger person, independent of the defining of the act as abuse or harmful (otherwise the argument would be simply [[self-fulfilling prophecy|self-fulfilling]]).
*'''The Lack of Informed Consent Argument''': The age of consent refers to the age at which a person can be reasonably expected to be able to give [[informed consent]] to sex.&lt;ref group=note&gt;People debating age of consent issues are usually vague about what exactly "informed consent" involves.&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''The Adult Only Wants One Thing Argument''': Underage sex is abusive because the adult must necessarily be only interested in sex with the teen.
*'''The Failure to Respect the Teen as a Person Over Time Argument''': Similar to above, but not identical. This is a common "philosophical" justification of the age of consent, stating that the adult is only interested in the teen as a teen, rather than as a person.
*'''The Unmarried Sex With a Teen is Wrong Argument''': Proponents of this argument hold that what is wrong in particular with adults having sex with teens is that it is necessarily unmarried sex (in most countries, the [[marriage]] age is now higher than the age of consent). For much of human history, men over 18 having sex with girls under 18, either within marriage or shortly before marrying, was considered normal or even was the norm, but those days are over.
*'''The Innocent Child Argument''': Teens under the age of consent are sexually innocent. An adult having sex with a teen represents an act of defilement and a premature loss of sexual "innocence".
*'''The [[Woman]] Will Later Regret It Argument''': This can also be described as "The Woman Will Regret Early Sex Argument" (obviously men never will, because [[Sexism|men regardless of age always continuously desire sex with anyone]], and anyway if they do regret it they're sissy losers because real men don't have feelings).
*'''The Teenaged Brain is Not Developed Enough''': This relies on data of human development, but the thing is, a lot of human brain development only stops with regard to decision-making around age 26. Should the age of consent then be 26?&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; {{efn|Moreover, should the voting age be 26? Should driving age be 26? Should military age be 26? Should people only be tried for adults at 26? Critics have noted there are numerous flaws with this argument.}} If we are going to use neuroscience to justify our views, this does not seem like a bad idea.{{efn|Although, this notion of brain development ceasing in the mid-twenties has recently come under closer scrutiny and may be either a misrepresentation of data or an outright fabrication.&lt;ref&gt;https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html&lt;/ref&gt;}}

&lt;!--
===Against===
*'''Reluctance to seek or offer advice''': young people may be reluctant to seek healthcare advice if they believe their actions may be illegal, and likewise healthcare professionals may be reluctant to offer advice to underage people, leading to risk of [[pregnancy]], STIs, and suboptimal treatment.&lt;ref&gt;[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1576/toag.8.4.235.27273/pdf Risk management: Young people and the Fraser guidelines: confidentiality and consent], Charlotte F Fleming, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 2006; 8:235–239&lt;/ref&gt;
*'''Lowering the Age of Consent will Decriminalize many Teen's Actions''': Let's take British numbers for example, 31% of British teen males and 29% of females engage in illegal activity under the eyes of the law, by lowering the age of consent, a full third of these teenagers' actions would be decriminalized.&lt;ref&gt;Philip Graham [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436061/]&lt;/ref&gt; Although teenagers are often not prosecuted for this, it doesn't seem like it would curtail anyone's anxiety when the police say "we might not come after you today".--&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;
*Historically, it was common for the age of consent for [[homosexual]] sex to be higher than that of heterosexual sex. These laws are pretty much universally regarded as discriminatory, and fortunately in most jurisdictions this is no longer the case, but as of 2024 nine stragglers still remain.&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.equaldex.com/issue/age-of-consent Equal age of consent], ''Equaldex''&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    <revision>
      <id>2655739</id>
      <parentid>2655688</parentid>
      <timestamp>2024-06-16T01:26:13Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>BobJohnson</username>
        <id>96844</id>
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      <comment>Entire "for" section is written by banned user Men's Rights EXTREMIST, removing</comment>
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      <text bytes="7760" sha1="31cdqd6rxkxdl27fcin6rdo5ce01g1b" xml:space="preserve">{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;
*Historically, it was common for the age of consent for [[homosexual]] sex to be higher than that of heterosexual sex. These laws are pretty much universally regarded as discriminatory, and fortunately in most jurisdictions this is no longer the case, but as of 2024 nine stragglers still remain.&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.equaldex.com/issue/age-of-consent Equal age of consent], ''Equaldex''&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
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    </revision>
    <revision>
      <id>2655780</id>
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      <timestamp>2024-06-16T05:25:27Z</timestamp>
      <contributor>
        <username>Plutocow</username>
        <id>80720</id>
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      <text bytes="7795" sha1="d20wayigr7xymrlbwa4necoxeweosa3" xml:space="preserve">{{afd|Another really bad article}}
{{sex}}{{law}}
The '''age of consent''' is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to [[sex]]. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is legally considered [[rape]], specifically [[statutory rape]] (as in, "defined by {{wpl|statute||"}}).

The age varies across the world, ranging from onset of puberty&lt;ref group=note&gt;See {{wpl|pubarche||:}} roughly age 11 for girls and 12 for boys, often varying individually by up to a few years.&lt;/ref&gt; in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] federal state of {{wpl|Nayarit}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/transparenciafiscal/marcoregulatorio/ordenamientos/c%C3%B3digo%20penal%20para%20el%20estado%20de%20nayarit.htm CÓDIGO PENAL PARA EL ESTADO DE NAYARIT], article 260. There are also rules for people under 11, but it is not clear whether they are only an aggravation or whether it is illegal to have sex with a pubescent under 11 years old. If the person is a "pubescent, chaste and honest woman under eighteen years of age", "obtaining her consent by seduction or deception" is forbidden. "Chastity, honesty and seduction are presumed, unless proven otherwise." (Article 258) But article 258 is only enforced if the girl or her parents complain (article 259). Probably because of article 258, ageofconsent.net states the age of consent as 18.&lt;/ref&gt; to 21 in [[Bahrain]].&lt;ref&gt;[https://archive.is/rU17 but, as ever, it's not that straightforward]&lt;/ref&gt; In [[Europe]], it ranges from 14 in many countries, such as [[Germany]], to 18 in [[Turkey]] and [[Vatican City]].&lt;ref&gt;https://www.ageofconsent.net/continent/europe&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/the-age-of-consent-in-malta-has-been-lowered&lt;/ref&gt; In the [[USA]], it varies among states and territories within the range of 16 to 18.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/jbCp9&lt;/ref&gt;

==History==
In the late 1800s, the age of consent was 10-12 years of age in most states in the U.S. (though as low as 7 in [[Delaware]]&lt;ref group=note&gt;What the fuck, Delaware?!&lt;/ref&gt;), and 10 in [[India]].&lt;ref name="willard house"&gt;[https://franceswillardhouse.org/recent-research-the-age-of-consent-and-the-wctu/ "Research Notes: The Age of Consent and the WCTU"]. ''Frances Willard House Museum &amp;amp; Archives.''&lt;/ref&gt; The social purity movement, which included the American Purity Alliance and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], was instrumental in getting the age of consent raised to 16-18 in every state (with the exception of [[Georgia]]) by 1920.&lt;ref name="willard house /&gt; They argued that a low age of consent encouraged [[prostitution]], because once a young woman had been seduced, [[society]] [[Patriarchy|left her no choice but to become a prostitute]].&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/FrWiD&lt;/ref&gt;

In the [[U.K.]], the {{wpl|Labouchere Amendment||,}} passed in 1885, raised the age of consent for women from 13 to 16. (This law also criminalized [[gay]] sex as "gross indecency"; [[Oscar Wilde]] and [[Alan Turing]] were both prosecuted under this law.) The [[Holy See]] changed its age of consent from 12&lt;ref group=note&gt;*snort*&lt;/ref&gt; to 18 in 2013 under [[Pope Francis]], following [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|priest molestation scandals]].&lt;ref&gt;Potts, Andrew (12 July 2013). [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-city-raises-age-consent-12-18-following-scandals120713/ "Vatican City raises age of consent from 12 to 18 following scandals"]. ''Gay Star News''.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;[[Wishful thinking|There, the problem is all fixed now!]]&lt;/ref&gt; Interestingly, the views of politicians and those of experts have clashed when it comes to the age of consent in the UK at least; in 2013, the president of the Faculty of Public Health put forward the idea to lower the age of consent to 15, but was (not surprisingly) shot down, despite having put forward views that it would benefit teenagers at the time. Politics always trumps science, which is a shame.&lt;ref&gt;https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/17/no-10-rejects-lower-age-consent-sex&lt;/ref&gt;

==Exceptions==
While far from universal, there are situations where sexual activity involving minors is not considered statutory rape or is treated less severely. Typically these are:
*When both partners are close in age. These exceptions are often called {{wpl|Romeo and Juliet law|"Romeo and Juliet laws"|.}}&lt;ref&gt;[http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm This article discusses R&amp;J laws from a US perspective.]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group=note&gt;Maybe not the best name, since ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a ''tragedy'' where both lovers commit [[suicide]] at the end (spoiler!), though granted, their deaths have nothing to do with their ages, being fairly typical marriage ages in Europe at the time the play was written [[Shakespeare authorship|&lt;s&gt;by Roger Bacon&lt;/s&gt;]].&lt;/ref&gt;
*Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
**that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. ([[Brunei]] is an example of this; also, in the U.S., only 27 states specify a minimum age for marriage, and 10 of those exempt couples who have a child or are expecting one. The other 23 states allow marriage at any age with parental and/or judicial approval.)&lt;ref&gt;Cocca, Carolyn. Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States&lt;/ref&gt; There is a movement underway to make the minimum age for marriage identical to the minimum age for sex with a significantly older adult.&lt;ref&gt;https://archive.is/ehxBj&lt;/ref&gt;
**that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.

In fact, in some jurisdictions, a subsequent marriage between the victim and offender will cause the statutory rape charge to be dismissed. This is ''definitely'' a good idea because a rapist would never rape a minor and then [[Marriage#Forced marriage|coerce them to marry their rapist]] in order to, *ahem*, get the abuser off. [[Rape#Historical view of "rape" within various religions|But this is commanded by God Himself]], [[Divine command theory|so who are we to judge]]? An example was [[Virginia]], before the law was changed in 2008.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.php/14-initiatives/216-domestic-violence-sexual-assult&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref group="note"&gt;Meaning that Virginians are destined to be [[Divine punishment|smitten by God]] for their sinful rebellion against His divine Law unless they hurry up and change it back!&lt;/ref&gt;

There are also circumstances in which the age of consent may be even higher than the "regular" age, such as:
*Where there is a position of trust. For example, in [[Britain]], the age of consent is 16, but rises to 18 in teacher/pupil relationships.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpga_20030042_en.pdf see paragraph 16]&lt;/ref&gt;
*When the relationship is exploitative; for example, in [[Germany]] and [[Canada]] which have their ages at 14 and 16 respectively, it is illegal to do sexual stuff with anyone under the age of 18 if the older partner exploits the younger partner.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html#StGB_000P182&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/clp/faq.html&lt;/ref&gt;
*Historically, it was common for the age of consent for [[homosexual]] sex to be higher than that of heterosexual sex. These laws are pretty much universally regarded as discriminatory, and fortunately in most jurisdictions this is no longer the case, but as of 2024 nine stragglers still remain.&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.equaldex.com/issue/age-of-consent Equal age of consent], ''Equaldex''&lt;/ref&gt;

==See also==
*[[Informed consent]]
*[[Online pedophile activism]]
*[[NAMBLA]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Law]]</text>
      <sha1>d20wayigr7xymrlbwa4necoxeweosa3</sha1>
    </revision>
  </page>
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