Child brides.

[123everton]

I've just watched "This World" on Channel 4 about the prevalence of child brides, some aged only 12.
Now as shocking and disgusting as it is, is it really that much different to the supposedly liberated, liberal and emancipated ideas in Britain?
I mean there an no pregnant 12 year olds here, you don't get girls at 15 walking around pushing their babies in prams in the U.K, do you?

[Ethel]

Up until 1929 12 year old girls and 14 year old boys could marry.

We seem to have gone to the other extreme now, where many young adults are still in full time education, living at home and supported by their parents in their mid-20s. In 1921 the school leaving age was 12, and it was out to work and earning.
And yet children are being sexualised by their parents at a very young age - make up, trendy clothes and so on for 6 year old girls.
I don't know what the answer is.

[Ice.Maiden]

No 6 year old daughter of mine'd be allowed to look 16. I think it's horrible.
And to everton - yes, but in countries where it's the norm for very young girls to marry, have you seen what the poor things look like by the time they get to 20? Ravaged by poverty and child-bearing.

[socket2008]

As much as some may disagree with what you say, they are the laws of that country. The age of consent around the world varies wildly between 12-18. In some countries you have to be married before you can have sex or it is punishable by death. Those that live in those countries have adapted to those laws.

Homosexuality is legal in this country, however there are nearly 100 countries around the world where it isn't. If you're caught doing anything of a homosexual nature, the punishments range from the death penalty to working in a labour camp.

Fox hunting is illegal here, in other countries it isn't. What about having a quick one down the pub? To virtually everyone in the uk that's normal. In other countries though, it is punishable by a prision sentence for getting caught drinking. In other countries foreigners going over there have to take identification with them when they buy a drink and then they can drink in a designated place. Sounds barmy, but to those in that country it is normal.

Right or Wrong, we live by (ever increasing) rules that are determined by the state and ultimately is cemented into something we then believe in.

[Supernick]

Age of consent is 12 in the Vatican, admittedly with restrictions on relationships where one party might be in a position of power (teacher etc). And that's from the home of Western religion.