A
female
age
26-29,
anonymous
writes:Why does the law dictate when people can have sex? It doesn't make sense. If two people are both underage and have sex, are they seriously going to go to jail? Who would call the police? Why is it so bad that they needed to make a law about it? And if an underage girl got pregnant by her underage boyfriend, would her boyfriend be in trouble? It doesn't make sense. It wouldn't even stop anyone. Can someone explain it? Reply to this Question
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reader, anonymous, writes (25 August 2011): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks :) just want to be clear, I don't want to have sex. i'm just curious.
A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (25 August 2011): "Girls are considered to mature faster, hence the differences."Actually, I think the real issue is that older men want to have sex with younger girls, not with older girls or women, and the lower age is so that this is enabled from an early age.In some countries, pedophilia is legal, they don't call if pedophilia though, they just say you aren't a girl any more after you have your period. Women and girls are devalued and treated as chattel.In other countries women have more rights and opportunities and don't have to settle for being someones sexual toy unless they want to.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (24 August 2011): You can get in trouble with the law if you break it, and obviously if an underage girl got pregnant this would be very clear evidence that the law had been broken. I beleive it is up to the couple involved, parents or families to make a complaint and bring the case to the attention of the police, some parents might be angry enough to turn their kids or their girlfriend/boyfriend in, especially if it was a case of an adult and a minor. It's just like any other law, about what age you can drive, start drinking, go into casinos etc, even if it doesn't always stop young people from doing these things anyway, it is meant to deter them and try and keep them safe.
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A
female
reader, dmartin89  +, writes (24 August 2011):
 If you were mature enough to have sex, you wouldent be asking this question. You would already realise why laws are put in place.
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A
male
reader, Jmtmj  +, writes (24 August 2011):
 For the same reason that minors who commit crimes are treated more leniently by the law. They've got less life experience and therefore less judgement than someone of adult age, generally speaking. The law would be hypocritical if it allowed minors to be less accountable for crimes of an adult nature whilst allowing minors to make adult decisions... getting pregnant or being seduced by adults, etc.
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A
male
reader, C. Grant  +, writes (24 August 2011):
 There are lots of things society says you have to wait until a certain age for. Drinking, driving, voting ...
The thinking is that people don't develop the judgement to make those sorts of decisions for themselves until they're 16 or 18 or 21 or whatever. It's an attempt to protect people from making mistakes that can have lasting consequences.
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A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (24 August 2011):
 Well, when you are young things seem like a good idea. Such as underage sex. You don't see a problem with it. When you get older, you look back and see what actually were good ideas, and which ideas were just plain stupid. Such as underage sex.
That is the first reason there is an age limit, because up until that age (which variates from country to country) you are not regarded as old enough to know what is a good idea, and what is a bad idea. The state then decides to make the decision for you. Basically, instead of leaving it up to chance and saying every immature kid should go ahead and reproduce, it tries to protect you from yourself.
Because, teenagers for most have no idea how to use protection. So they get pregnant a lot, without the means to support neither themselves or a child.
They have no idea if they actually ARE ready, but give in to pressure. This one is critical, as the law isn't mainly there to prevent you from having sex with your classmate, but to PROTECT you from being seduced by an older man who just wants to use your body. Which, contrary to what you might think, is quite common! It happens all the time, especially teachers or other figures of authority can so so easily seduce a young boy or girl. The young one believes it is love, while the older one was just after some easy snack. Because, teenagers at large aren't old enough or mature enough to recognize when an older person is taking advantage.
The law is also there to punish those who do take advantage of the under aged and pressure them into sex. Pressure of any form is pressure, being that "but I love you, and if you love me we should have sex" or "you're so mature, you are mature enough for sex, you will like it" or "all the others are doing it, don't you want to" or "I love you and you are special to me" (which makes you want to do something so special in return that you end up sleeping with him). These actions are to be punished, because they are a crime.
If the law was NOT there, then pedophilia would be allowed. And the older person could just say "but this 8 year old loves me and we want to be together and have sex". Does that sound ok to you?
The age of when someone is considered old enough for sex vary, like I first said. In Japan it is 13 for girls and 18 for boys. Angola 12 for girls and 15 for boys. Australia 16 and 18.
Girls are considered to mature faster, hence the differences. In most parts of the world the age is around 16, and in Cameroon you have to wait until you are 21 or married. In several countries again you have to wait until you are married, period.
Here's the complete list:
http://www.avert.org/age-of-consent.htm
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