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Age of Consent - too high, too low, just right?
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The Coronation Street story line has got me thinking about this. (For those who don't watch a major character's father fathered a child 30 years ago with his daughter's 14 year old best friend).
The thought of children being sexually active is appalling and emotive and I really think children in the UK are sexualised at far too young an age - many 7 year olds are conscious of their body, their image and the opposite sex.
On the other hand, many young adults seem to be treated as children far too long - have no real responsibility for themselves or others until well in to their 20s.
Some young adults seem very mature physically and emotionally and this is recognised in some other countries. The age of consent in Spain, for example, is 13 (not long ago it was 12); Austria and Germany is 14; Denmark and France is 15.
Personally I would like it to be 24 but this is a bit unrealistic. What do others think, especially parents.
The thought of children being sexually active is appalling and emotive and I really think children in the UK are sexualised at far too young an age - many 7 year olds are conscious of their body, their image and the opposite sex.
On the other hand, many young adults seem to be treated as children far too long - have no real responsibility for themselves or others until well in to their 20s.
Some young adults seem very mature physically and emotionally and this is recognised in some other countries. The age of consent in Spain, for example, is 13 (not long ago it was 12); Austria and Germany is 14; Denmark and France is 15.
Personally I would like it to be 24 but this is a bit unrealistic. What do others think, especially parents.
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zzxxee
Sat 02/05/09
14:46 hey you cant buy fags or alchahol till your 18 but you can make babies at 16 and potentially contract aids you cant drive a car until 17 but can create a human life a year before the uk ****** up or what?
just that read like you were a lot younger.
im just wondering if ur 36 and have an 18 year old daughter
im no maths wizard
but really seems youre being a bit judgemental mm?
Sat 02/05/09
14:46 hey you cant buy fags or alchahol till your 18 but you can make babies at 16 and potentially contract aids you cant drive a car until 17 but can create a human life a year before the uk ****** up or what?
just that read like you were a lot younger.
im just wondering if ur 36 and have an 18 year old daughter
im no maths wizard
but really seems youre being a bit judgemental mm?
It was 1929 when the legal age of marriage was raised from 12 for girls and 14 for boys in the UK.
I have said here before that rarely do under 16s get prosecuted in the UK for having sex with under 16s. I never said any different, Legend. Yes, it is illegal, but it is not usually deemed to be 'in the public interest' to prosecute.
zzxxee - before 1947 the school leaving age 14, then until 1972 it was 15. These were young adults of 14 and 15 working full time, in proper jobs, and helping to support the families, bringing money home to mum until they left home.
They were considered mature enough then to earn a living.
I have said here before that rarely do under 16s get prosecuted in the UK for having sex with under 16s. I never said any different, Legend. Yes, it is illegal, but it is not usually deemed to be 'in the public interest' to prosecute.
zzxxee - before 1947 the school leaving age 14, then until 1972 it was 15. These were young adults of 14 and 15 working full time, in proper jobs, and helping to support the families, bringing money home to mum until they left home.
They were considered mature enough then to earn a living.
etehl there are kids that have left the education system long before 16 now.
they dont leav eto work as after 16 they wont work either.
they are the new class who drop out and survive on welfare
ive known some folk on benefits 20 years and neve rever had a job and theres nothing wrong with them
apart from the invented ailments for the dss benefits
they dont leav eto work as after 16 they wont work either.
they are the new class who drop out and survive on welfare
ive known some folk on benefits 20 years and neve rever had a job and theres nothing wrong with them
apart from the invented ailments for the dss benefits
didnt they only recently change the smoking to 18?
and years ago peole were encouraged to smoke
times change and opinions too.
as i said the age is immaterial its contraception that should be of main concern.
countries with lower and even higher age limits still have less stds and pregnancies
sure fire pproof that an age limit makes no difference its education and contraception.and some parents being parents.not best friends.
and years ago peole were encouraged to smoke
times change and opinions too.
as i said the age is immaterial its contraception that should be of main concern.
countries with lower and even higher age limits still have less stds and pregnancies
sure fire pproof that an age limit makes no difference its education and contraception.and some parents being parents.not best friends.
I don't think it's the age of consent that's the problem really, maybe raise it to eighteen but I don't really see that it would make much difference.
Personally I think the issue is a complete lack of a decent sexual education in schools, at homes etc... THen you add the media sexualising anything it possibly can do and every other magazine making out that we should all be at it like rabbits every five minutes in a different position each time, definitely using toys and possibly getting in on a threesome while ensuring you to stay bi-curious then I'm not suprised there appears to be some confusion around sex and what it's really all about!
However the age itself, I don't really have a problem with.
Personally I think the issue is a complete lack of a decent sexual education in schools, at homes etc... THen you add the media sexualising anything it possibly can do and every other magazine making out that we should all be at it like rabbits every five minutes in a different position each time, definitely using toys and possibly getting in on a threesome while ensuring you to stay bi-curious then I'm not suprised there appears to be some confusion around sex and what it's really all about!
However the age itself, I don't really have a problem with.
China, I agree with you entirely about the sexualising of everything.
I can't bear to see very young girls in bikinis, making them conscious of something they just don't have.
This is the fault of the parents who choose to dress under 8s as teenagers ,and the shops that sell it.
My next door neigbour's young daughter and her friends were singing along the new Lily Allen today - It's Not Fair.
Now I sound like an old bag. :(
I can't bear to see very young girls in bikinis, making them conscious of something they just don't have.
This is the fault of the parents who choose to dress under 8s as teenagers ,and the shops that sell it.
My next door neigbour's young daughter and her friends were singing along the new Lily Allen today - It's Not Fair.
Now I sound like an old bag. :(
Unless you live either on a mountain top or the dark side of the moon, you would find it impossible to stop kids of whatever age having access to the media, in whatever form, and from being influenced, in some way, by it.
Children are of course the most impressionable members of society because they are learning about all kinds of facets of life as they grow and mature. Influences, good and bad, are inescapable for them.
As long as they have a strong family unit around them, then the chances are that they will probably be taught social graces, what's regarded as right or wrong, what's acceptable or what's not, and so on.
The worst way, though, to thwart a child's development is surely to "wrap them in cotton wool" by shielding them from the world around them. It's the responsibility of parents and adults to come up with the answers and example when children need questions, of any description, addressed.
Vigilance and common sense approach has to be the answer.
Children are of course the most impressionable members of society because they are learning about all kinds of facets of life as they grow and mature. Influences, good and bad, are inescapable for them.
As long as they have a strong family unit around them, then the chances are that they will probably be taught social graces, what's regarded as right or wrong, what's acceptable or what's not, and so on.
The worst way, though, to thwart a child's development is surely to "wrap them in cotton wool" by shielding them from the world around them. It's the responsibility of parents and adults to come up with the answers and example when children need questions, of any description, addressed.
Vigilance and common sense approach has to be the answer.
Ha! I like Leo's idea, it means I've only just reached consenting age! Excellent... I can continue to act like a teenager.
I don't think you sound like an old bag, I hear some of the songs in the charts these days and even I just think 'ouch' knowing that some wee kid somewhere will be singing along to it, even if they don't know what it means... And probably doing the dance too!
Mind you, with the build upn they have to it these days, I'm suprised more don't think the actual sex bit is a bit of an anti-climax. I keep expecting them to run screaming 'Is that it?!'' ;0)
I don't think you sound like an old bag, I hear some of the songs in the charts these days and even I just think 'ouch' knowing that some wee kid somewhere will be singing along to it, even if they don't know what it means... And probably doing the dance too!
Mind you, with the build upn they have to it these days, I'm suprised more don't think the actual sex bit is a bit of an anti-climax. I keep expecting them to run screaming 'Is that it?!'' ;0)
paraffin, you are right. The 'gymslip mums' I knew in my youth were mostly totally ignorant of the facts of life before they 'did it'. Their families refused to discuss it with them and of course there was no sex education in schools then.
Treating sex as dirty and shameful is just as harmful as being over lenient with children.
Treating sex as dirty and shameful is just as harmful as being over lenient with children.
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