The Age of Consent: Culture-Dependent or Universally Objective?

[McBell]

The reality is, if there is no central guide, then everything becomes dependent upon culture, what is popular at that particular time, in that particular society and what the majority wants. The same goes for age of consent.

The reality is, there is no evidence of a "central guide".
What we have here in reality is culture based morality, culture based ethics, culture based age of consent, culture based murder (ritual killings), culture based.....

 

[Tomorrows_Child]

The reality is, there is no evidence of a "central guide".
What we have here in reality is culture based morality, culture based ethics, culture based age of consent, culture based murder (ritual killings), culture based.....

That's your perspective and it's fine but religions and other ideologies of life provide guides for individuals.

 

[McBell]

That's your perspective and it's fine but religions and other ideologies of life provide guides for individuals.

thus you have demonstrated that there is no "central guide".
thank you.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

That's your perspective and it's fine but religions and other ideologies of life provide guides for individuals.

Assuming those religious and other ideologies aren't also culture based.

 

[Aštra’el]

"Culture dependent", obviously

 

[GoodbyeDave]

What makes me even more puzzled about how low the age of consent is in some of those European countries is that we're talking about first-world countries like Germany and France here, not, say, Yemen or Iran. Low education and poverty don't seem to me to be an explanation for the low age of consent in the case of said European countries.

I love the idea that anything different to what's done in the USA is aberrant and needs explanation!

Obviously, the age of consent is a cultural norm. What is necessary is to prevent exploitation. Naturally, I think we do pretty well in the UK, although I suspect things are similar elsewhere in Europe. Here
1. The age on consent is 16.
2. But if the younger partner is under 18, then it is an offence if the older one is in a position of authority, like a teacher or employer. That is not a sexual offence, though: just the crime of exploiting a position of trust.
3. If the younger partner is over 14 and the older under 24, then prosecution will only take place under exceptional circumstances with the authorisation of the Attorney General. We really don't want to give criminal records to 17 year olds for having sex with 15 year olds (as is done in parts of the USA): it helps no-one.

 

[Sutekh]

I love the idea that anything different to what's done in the USA is aberrant and needs explanation!

Obviously, the age of consent is a cultural norm. What is necessary is to prevent exploitation. Naturally, I think we do pretty well in the UK, although I suspect things are similar elsewhere in Europe. Here
1. The age on consent is 16.
2. But if the younger partner is under 18, then it is an offence if the older one is in a position of authority, like a teacher or employer. That is not a sexual offence, though: just the crime of exploiting a position of trust.
3. If the younger partner is over 14 and the older under 24, then prosecution will only take place under exceptional circumstances with the authorisation of the Attorney General. We really don't want to give criminal records to 17 year olds for having sex with 15 year olds (as is done in parts of the USA): it helps no-one.

Agreed.[emoji846]

 

[Milton Platt]

Recently, I found out that the age of consent in some European countries is as young as 14 and 15:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe

For example, in Germany, Italy, and Portugal, it's 14. In France and Denmark, it's 15.

I also thought this was worth bringing up for discussion (highlighting mine):



What I understand from that is that cyber-sex with a minor is punishable by only two years in prison. I find that atrociously messed up if that's the case.

What makes me even more puzzled about how low the age of consent is in some of those European countries is that we're talking about first-world countries like Germany and France here, not, say, Yemen or Iran. Low education and poverty don't seem to me to be an explanation for the low age of consent in the case of said European countries.

Thoughts? Is the age of consent largely culture-dependent, or do those European countries practically legally sanction child rape? And if so many of those European countries sanction child rape, are there any reports of widespread problems among European adults who believe they were raped after having sex as young teenagers and/or are experiencing trauma from having sex at such a young age?

Note: Encouraging engagement in activities that are illegal under U.S. law or mentioning personal engagement in them is a violation of Rule 6 of the forum rules. This thread is to discuss whether the age of consent is largely culture-dependent and whether some European countries legally sanction child rape. It is not to be used to voice encouragement for having sex with minors according to U.S. law.

Thank you.

You answered your own question in the header.......it varies, and therefore is situational and not objective.

 

[Sunstone]

Age of consent laws in the United States were for the most part put in place in the early 1900s. In nearly every state, they were adopted for more or less the following reason: Girls had a much harder time becoming independent and supporting themselves if they became pregnant at an early age and dropped out of school.

The notion that girls who became pregnant during their school years tended overwhelmingly to drop out of school was a simple, observed fact, and therefore objective.

The notion that girls should or ought to become capable of supporting themselves was a subjective value judgment.

 

[Subhankar Zac]

I'd say it depends on the situation. But from personal experience, best not to lower the consensual age lower than 12.
It might be just my personal stories, but for me, I'd prefer that.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

Age of consent

What a strange term. One can consent to anything at any age(assuming functional awareness)

What we are really talking about here is 'age of ickyness' where ickyness is defined by the cultural beliefs of the speaker. Purely arbitrary, purely moralistic.

Nature tells us when a woman's body is ready with some very obvious signs. Everything past that is moralizing and finger wagging.

This is just one more area of many many where the govt needs to gtfo of people's personal lives.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Recently, I found out that the age of consent in some European countries is as young as 14 and 15:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe

For example, in Germany, Italy, and Portugal, it's 14. In France and Denmark, it's 15.

I also thought this was worth bringing up for discussion (highlighting mine):



What I understand from that is that cyber-sex with a minor is punishable by only two years in prison. I find that atrociously messed up if that's the case.

What makes me even more puzzled about how low the age of consent is in some of those European countries is that we're talking about first-world countries like Germany and France here, not, say, Yemen or Iran. Low education and poverty don't seem to me to be an explanation for the low age of consent in the case of said European countries.

Thoughts? Is the age of consent largely culture-dependent, or do those European countries practically legally sanction child rape? And if so many of those European countries sanction child rape, are there any reports of widespread problems among European adults who believe they were raped after having sex as young teenagers and/or are experiencing trauma from having sex at such a young age?

Note: Encouraging engagement in activities that are illegal under U.S. law or mentioning personal engagement in them is a violation of Rule 6 of the forum rules. This thread is to discuss whether the age of consent is largely culture-dependent and whether some European countries legally sanction child rape. It is not to be used to voice encouragement for having sex with minors according to U.S. law.

Thank you.

I think that for a full picture, you also need to consider marriageable age.I think marriageable age is a better indicator of overall acceptance. In France and Germany (to use two of your examples), the marriageable age is generally 18.

IMO, there are generally two approaches to the age of consent:
- not penalizing consensual premarital sex between teenagers who are close in age, but taking a fairly hard line against teen marriage, either to someone close in age or to an older spouse.
- taking a fairly hard line against premarital sex, and having a low age of consent in order to facilitate teen marriage.

And as far as child rape goes:
- age of consent really only applies to the question of whether consent freely given is valid. If consent wasn't given, then it's sexual assault regardless of age.
- Western countries (including most European countries, IIRC) generally have laws against child and teen victimization that could come into play in the case of a predatory relationship between someone who's over the age of consent but still young enough to be protected by those laws.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I'd say it depends on the situation. But from personal experience, best not to lower the consensual age lower than 12.
It might be just my personal stories, but for me, I'd prefer that.

In terms of criminal law, very young participants are already effectively exempt. For instance, in Canada, sex between two 11-year-olds wouldn't be punished as a crime, since the age of criminal responsibility in Canada is 12.

... which isn't to say that sex between 11-year-olds would be sanctioned or consequence-free, just that it wouldn't be dealt with under criminal law.

 

[Subhankar Zac]

In terms of criminal law, very young participants are already effectively exempt. For instance, in Canada, sex between two 11-year-olds wouldn't be punished as a crime, since the age of criminal responsibility in Canada is 12.

... which isn't to say that sex between 11-year-olds would be sanctioned or consequence-free, just that it wouldn't be dealt with under criminal law.

I don't focus much on law and regulations but on experiences

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Nature tells us when a woman's body is ready with some very obvious signs.

When/how does Nature tell us when a man's body is ready?

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

When/how does Nature tell us when a man's body is ready?

Puberty hits both genders, but with boys its not as much of an issue.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Puberty hits both genders, but with boys its not as much of an issue.

What's not as much of an issue? What exactly do you mean by this?

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

What's not as much of an issue? What exactly do you mean by this?

Boys can't get pregnant, there are less repercussions to sex for them.

 

[Sutekh]

The boys just have to protect themselves from STDS.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Puberty hits both genders, but with boys its not as much of an issue.

Boys can't get pregnant, there are less repercussions to sex for them.

So what, if any, are the implications for the age of consent (for boys/men)? Is there a different age of consent for boys/men compared with girls/women?