Should the age of consent in the US be increased?

Question

Psychology shows that the human brain isn't fully developed until 20-21 years of age. Not only that, but the legal drinking age is that anyways so It'd just make more sense. It would also combat pedophiles from grooming teenagers right out of high school.

TheSpaceGnome · Accepted Answer

Possibly, but not for the reasons you think, and the law typically doesn't solve the problem of sex happening before a person can handle it's consequences, education does a far better job at that.

The brain is actually fully developed long before you are 18, and either you understand consent early on, or you are too dumb to understand it ever.

Most teen sex is between 2 teens, who goes to jail then? the underage person? or the other underage person? who raises the kid after? Who is the victim when the couple is happy and doing a good parenting job? Plus consent is independent of knowledge, you can know everything you need to know and still not consent.

Age of consent is one of those laws that makes the claim that adults know what they are doing and teens don't, neither of which is true.

The reality is most people are too retarded to be parents at any age, and it would make more sense to measure Intelligence and body size, than age. But ultimately still accomplishes nothing.

Why does such a law still accomplish nothing? Well simply put, because I was smarter at 5 than my mom was at 30.
So by your logic, it would be ok for me to have sex at 5 because I fully understood sex, reproduction, stds, consent, bc, it and all it's consequences, and sorry, but no. Understanding how it works doesn't mean it's ok. 5 is too young just as 16 is too young, even if they understand everything just fine, it's still not ok.

Trying to pin comprehension skills to an age is unscientific and stupid, and I don't care how smart you are, you should probably still wait till at least mid 20s to have sex, simply for economic reasons of baby costs and needing a steady job.

As a 35 year old virgin, I can tell you right now my teenage friends still fucked each-other and didn't care what age that law was set to, nor did they listen to my advice that it was a bad idea since they didn't want kids and bc doesn't work and they had no jobs.

They were all too dumb to understand birth control effectiveness but understood consent and are in serious monogamous relationships with eachother. So they showed the same level of half assed comprehension my 30-40 year old peers have.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It should be 25. That’s when your body stops changing.
I tell you what though. Look who’s President. Look at California. These people want toddlers to be able to determine their sex, you have the Jeffrey Epstein saga, guys like Chris Cuomo saying 12 year olds should be tolerant of seeing an Old man’s penis in the locker room. And they talk about Trump saying that older women let him grab em because he’s so rich? Still something I wouldn’t do, but just the sheer attention they gave it vs this. In 1992, Cory Booker wrote of sexually assaulting an underage girl. You got Biden on video

https://youtu.be/uSRqaO6DXcA

. It’s so disgusting. Where is the lefty fan base outrage?

In Hollywood it’s regular to have older men dating 18 year old women, especially friends daughters. The thing some people will do for money. My girlfriend’s family are multi millionaires. The daughter went to school in San Francisco. You wouldn’t the kind of shit that goes on there.

MoonStalker · Accepted Answer

Yes, and I think that they should also make it a law that both people have to confirm the other's age, and that their partner is actually consenting, plus, that they're in their right mind and not impaired. Would make my life easier knowing I could use that as defense if I ever fail in defending myself from vile slime who try to force a a CLEARLY resisting, and in no way consenting minor to get into their car because they think they should be allowed to because they're bigger and crueler. I've never wanted the attention I get, and I frequently make myself uncomfortable to try and lower it. I don't shave anywhere, I don't paste dead insects on my face, and you sure as hell won't find me wearing a dress or a skirt of my own free will. I'm so friggin TIRED of creeps saying I want it, or I'm asking for it. I'm autistic, I NEVER make unprompted eye contact or smile, nor do I "flirt" I'm still a kid and I have had to fight tooth and nail, kicking, biting and flailing to protect myself from old men. It's sure as hell not ok. And as long as a rapist can pretend that they didn't know it'll never get better. I'm tired of having to physically fight, and honestly? I'd be thrilled if the creeps trying to rape me were trying to kill me instead. Then I wouldn't have to worry about how bad my life will be if and when I lose. If you blame a murder victim they won't have to know. The same cannot be said for a survivor of rape who will be completely broken for the rest of their life even without being blamed for something they had no control over. I'm already partially broken, and I can say that I'm sure it can get worse. I wouldn't wish the pain I've felt and currently feel on anyone except a rapist, because they are the ones who deserve this, not me, or any other innocent targeted person.

SamA_nold · Accepted Answer

Man, just reading through the men's answers is a ride...

Teenagers are going to screw each other, no matter what a law says, but I think it would be good to have a uniform age across all states. 20 is a little old, but maybe 17/18. Either way, we should increase and better our sexual education classes, as well as dating and online safety classes, that way even if people do have sex young, we'd lower the rates of teen pregnancy and such. It would also help less young people get caught in an older man/woman's fantasy.

DJB72 · Answer

Consentual age is a pretty arbitrary number. It was originally brought in to protect young people from exploitation physically and sexually following massive pressure from William Booth and the Salvation Army to help stop child prostitution.

They picked 21 because it was voting age at the time.

It's somewhat crazy to say a person aged 16 is old enough to have sex, but too young to be able to watch it in a movie.

Or to go to war and be trained to kill but not have a brandy to steady their nerves.

Or marry at 18 without parental consent, but not toast with champagne at the reception.

If your decision making processes are mature enough at 16 to go to war, then you're old enough to make a decision about sex.

Of course, the US government (and most governments) probably wants their cannon-fodder to be too immature to question their orders so the old grey men in old grey suits have some young, idealistic infantrymen to go and die so they can feel good about themselves...

ShadezMcgee · Answer

Then what do YOU believe the age of consent should be? If someone needs to be 21 to drink alcohol, does that mean they need to be 21 to have consensual sex in your eyes as well? Does this just apply for people who want to sleep with people older than then or everyone needs to be 21 to have sex in general?

Instead of leaving it vague, why don't you give us your personal opinion and why the age should be the age you believe it should be? By the way, the brain isn't fully developed until you are 25.

Celtero · Answer

I don't see that it's the government's job to babysit people. Our culture fosters this weird delayed adulthood these days in which people live with mommy and daddy until they're 30 and they don't get married and have kids until they're almost 35 or 40. Used to be people were all grown up by the time they were 20.

I've seen studies that brain development is really finished by 25, so might as well make it that. Should probably not let underdeveloped people drive, drink, or serve in the army either while we're at it.

And uh... your beliefs are juvenile if you really think a 19 year old and 17 year old "getting together" is unnatural. That just goes beyond wanting to protect people from predators.

Sargentcaptain · Answer

Hell no. The fact that some idiots are fine with 'kids' driving glorified death traps as fast as they want, but think that those same 'kids' are too young to have sex is insane. Just make everything 18. If you're old enough to drink, you're old enough to have sex, drive, die in a war, vote and just to be generally an adult. People at 18 get jobs and start their careers, even families. Some of the ages on this map are Romeo and Juliet laws anyway. 'Kids' are gonna have sex whether you like it or not.

dezzman98 · Answer

Honestly it would be nice but it most likely would simply cause a rise in underage sex because for one that's 5 year span in some areas that just got told they aren't able to have sex anymore. Plus a lot of college students are under 21 and they need around more than rabbits sometimes, plus people that were of age would then be possibly facing sex offended charges for doing something they had been doing for a year already. Or if someone over 21 is with a say 19 year old and the age limit gets changed to 21, that person could face statutory rape charges for being intimate with their partner now

Derekk · Answer

No it shouldn't be. It's something that the law has to take a "best guess" at because it's ultimately on a case by case basis. Statistics on brain development do not predict "matured" behaviour, however that would be defined. I've met 9 yr olds with better sense than 25 yr olds. And frankly, I've met 14 yr olds better equipped to make sexual health decisions than friends of my own age. That being said, I don't know what the right age should be. I don't think the law can ever be prefect with something like this.

Ghostykill3r · Answer

I don't know man, it's complicated. Like yes I think that adults (mid 20s and up) shouldn't really be having sex with 17-20 year olds, but also teenagers are going to have sex with each other, obviously not all of them, but it will happen. So should it be a crime for two 16 year olds to have sex? No. Should it be a crime for an 18 year old and a 27 year old to have sex? I don't really know, maybe? It's definitely really weird and makes me uncomfortable but I don't know if it's bad enough to be illegal.

Another point, if you can't have sex at 18, why should you be able to be an adult? You can get loans, get an apartment, and all that, but you can't have sex?

JSmuve · Answer

If you're basing your argument on when a brain is fully developed then the age of consent should be no younger than 25. Good luck convincing a 20 year old that they're too young to decide what to do with their body.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

20-21, huh? I was always told it was 25. I don't think it makes sense to increase the age of consent. We just have to be consistent about the stuff you're allowed to do and at what age. It is absolutely insane to me that we let 16 year olds drive but they can't vote, serve in the armed forces, smoke, or drink. We don't let them do those things because an average 16 year old does not have the capacity of sound judgement to responsibly operate a 1 ton weapon like that. If anything, driving age should be increased to 20-21, drinking, smoking, and serving age should be 18, and we shouldn't be letting people vote until 25 at earliest.

K-I-S-S · Answer

A real dilemma as hormones don't care too much about age, some develop later some earlier.

I think current age limita are pretty decent.

There will always be people who will try to take advantage of you.

Best solution would be to educate kids in school on it at least once a week or twice a week. Called life skills. There they could learn about taxes, government, how shitty people work, about different scams etc etc.

That would make a difference, not just some law.

Criminals don't care about the law, only the gullible citizens do.

backblueblack22 · Answer

Let’s see you ask this exact same question when your 19 and in college. Let’s see how think when meet an attractive 30 year old professor’s assistant or a richer guy 28 to 32 or even olde. Really then and only then I would like to hear about you raising the age of consent to 21.

18 years are legal adults. Yes they aren’t allowed to buy alcohol or nicotine. But aren’t entitled to economic support and they can also serve in the military. Many of them have already had sexual experience with (hopefully) people close to their age. It’s complicated but it’s not the same as putting an addictive substance in your body or betting your life savings at a blackjack table. At that age you hopefully know the right way to consent vs. deny someone. You are more naive yes but you are not a child. Just a young adult.

Bee-Hatch · Answer

Ok no offence, but you're a 15 year old asking about changing laws because of paedophiles. You want to change something that affects everyone, because of something statistically negligible. And if you're abiding by your laws something you wouldn't have any experience to form an informed opinion on, because you're under age.

Anonymous · Answer

I actually hate it. Why are we still pretending that girls don't know what they're doing at 16 or whatever? We see too many times where WOMEN don't get anything but probation if they groom and bang the shit out of 14-16 year old boys, but men will get 20 years in prison or whatever if they do the same thing to a girl of that age. It's complete bullshit the way the laws are carried out, so maybe lower the age and quit trying to control everyone and attack men. Or raise the age, but start enforcing the laws equally between males and females?

hahahmm · Answer

Eh, age of consent laws are just a reflection of the fact society is falling apart. In a society that is working properly you don't need a rule because socially the parents (dad mainly) has the right to erase anybody who messes with his daughter. The dad is the protector and keeps her safe. When you have a bunch of weak dads, and lazy parents who don't teach their kids or monitor their kids' behavior then you have all kinds of chaos like we see in society today.

nevernevernever · Answer

funny thing, raising the drinking age to 21 actually increased the amount of teenagers drinking in unsafe conditions. I feel like raising the age of consent would do similar things. If you're old enough to sign your rights away to the military and go shoot people, you're old enough to fuck and drink a beer

Anonymous · Answer

I was gonna share my opinion but after accusing people of being pedophiles for sharing their opinions, I’ll just say this instead.

Age doesn’t make anyone more or less mature. There are dumb teens and dumb adults. There are also smart teens and smart adults. Yeah, teens are more reckless but so are college aged adults in the 20-21 or 18-25 year old age range.

If a 16 year old wants to have sex with an 18 year old or vice versa, why should that be illegal? Now, if the guy/ girl is 30 or older and having sex with a 15-16 year old, that’s weird and wrong. What can’t that person find somebody closer to their age?

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

At what age in the US can you legally vote and legally join the Military and put your life on the line?
at what age can you join police, fire service etc and put your life on the line?

any age of consent cannot go above those ages.

you cannot have a situation where you trust someone to vote or defend society but not have sex.

ElenaFrogger552 · Answer

Eh... probably not too good of an idea. Most teenagers already break a shit ton of laws anyway, so it won't make a difference. If anything, it'll make them even more likely to want to break the law, since they'll have to wait even longer for sex legally!

I also think 21 for alcohol is a bit much... if you can go to war at 18, you SHOULD be able to have a beer without going to jail for it!

Anonymous · Answer

Yes but teenagers should be allowed to have sex eachother but under some conditions: 14-15 years old people should only have sex with a 14-15 years old people, 16- 17 years old people should only have sex with 16-17 years old people. A 18-21 years old people should have sex with a 18-21. So i think the age of consent should be increased.

kespethdude · Answer

The highest I'd be willing to raise it is 25 (as long as voting, alcohol AND military service are also raised to that same age, whichever is chosen.) Anything higher is not natural. Also, the trolls who want to raise it to 65 [probably live in their parent's basement anyway. And no, I do NOT want it lowered at all.

ZackBan · Answer

Let's face it people are gonna do it when they are gonna do it there is no law that can change that. All that will achieve is sending people to prison for something as natural as sex. So I say keep the age as it is and educate the youth to value their own bodies and dignity.

(On a side note what manga character is that?)

iseekpinetrees · Answer

No many people have sex from 13 on with peers. Older going for younger rule most places is 18 by then they are aware of most of what life has to offer n how to protect them selves. The states where 16 is the age is questionable personally at 16 I wasn't as mature as 18 so kinda weird someone wants that. Young or old.

TheLittleInnocent · Answer

I'm mildly disturbed from reading all these opinions 😭💀

BeenThereLovedIt · Answer

By your own logic, your brain isn't developed enough to comprehend or participate in a conversation on this topic, right?

First, you have no idea what you are talking about. You are making broad generalizations based on your own personal emotions and outrage.

Psychiatrists all agree on what a pedophile is and it disagrees with your assumptions.

The proper terms are:
Ephebophilia to refer to the sexual preference for mid-to-late adolescents, hebephilia to refer to the sexual preference for earlier pubescent individuals, and pedophilia to refer to the primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children"

This is how misinformation gets turned into public policy.

Anonymous · Answer

No lower it. It would have been much better in middle school and high school if the guys I was with didn't have to worry about being with me by my choice. I didn't regret it then and I don't regret it now.

If you're 17 you can't sleep with a 19 year old but if you're 18 you can sleep with a 70 year old? wtf sense does that make?

DaveToo · Answer

You DO understand that children "investigate", adolescents try new things, teens experiment with sex. You can't put a restriction on what children will do. Age of consent is primarily for adults who wish to have sex with underage people. Raising the age of consent doesn't change whether an adult is going to try to have sex with an underage person. All it will do is make those who wish to get married at the age of 17+ illegal.

karaspara · Answer

Difficult subject it's 16 in the uk which is quite young but has been my whole life some places in Europe are as young as 14 which I think is ridiculous but for the most part I think people have sex when they feel ready ( whether they are or not ) so age of consent is kinda mute point

CasuallySamsonite · Answer

Yes, the human brain continues to develop until a person is in their mid 20's so raise the age for everything until like 25. Age of consent, smoking, drinking, joining the military all of it and mandate it at the National level.

Birdlegs · Answer

It’s been stated that your brain isn’t fully developed until 25!! It’s crazy and I’ve definitely experienced that under development first hand too many times😂😂 even at 20

Xumatro · Answer

I'm wondering why you even asked this question. Many people here have given you their viewpoints and all you do is call them pedophiles and outrage. You seem to be incapable of having a real discussion. You like to claim the moral high ground right? You say your intentions are to protect children when, in fact, all you want is to get some attention and validation.

Jackblue · Answer

It should be whatever age we consider adulthood to be. The thing is, I don't think anyone wants to go back to the days when you were not an adult until you are 21, so I think 18 is fine. I wouldn't go after an 18 year old woman certainly, and I would discourage other men my age from doing so, it is better that she date a man her own age, but I wouldn't put them in jail unless they were her teacher or her relative or of course she didn't consent.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I know plenty of people being 21 or older - and their ''maturity'' is more than questionable.
I do support the idea about protecting 'the young' and 'the vulnerable'.
But laws alone will not do the trick, when the overall culture is rotten.

Zelda_5 · Answer

It should be, if that would help, but it wouldn't. Teenagers are already having sex before legal age, but they're closer to it. If you raise it to 21, that won't help anything because they won't listen to it.

Ms_Vanderquack · Answer

Changing laws isn’t going to stop pedophiles. Nor is it going to stop teenagers from bumping uglies.

bamesjond0069 · Answer

No because they are still going to have sex anyways. When a young girl wants sex she will go find someone to give it to her. And if she's underage it will surely be with a criminal and there is zero chance its a good upstanding man. I think its mostly about right as it. What i really think needs to be done is teach the kids not to have sex in the first place so soon.

Isitweird997 · Answer

I think that's bullshit. Sure maybe some mentally slow people take longer to reach peak intelligence. But mentally I felt like an adult at around 13/14... I feel no different now to when I did back then, I'm the same person... Jus taller... I don't think we should raise the age for the few mentally slow people to catch up... Because I think the general population are pretty smart and mature by age of 16 17... Generally... Maybe even 15

Tstrbrainer · Answer

Nah, from what I know, the parts that develope later have nothing to do with the ability to consent.

Different people mature differently and I think 18 is a standard age.

And, a person who is 18 is an adult, so I don't really understand why it have to do with pedophiles.
If a person is physically able to have sex and is mentally able to handle it, that person is good to go. Whether they want relationship or just fuck is a personal choice

MalesGOD1 · Answer

Most states lowered the age because courts calendars were filled beyond capacity with cases of 16/17 year old's. A female human is almost always totally ripe and ready for breeding at 16 and their brains are almost fully developed. Its the boys in their lagging just behind brain development that caused the age to be set at 18 in the first place. Biologically speaking males and females should start interacting on every level at 13.

worldscolide · Answer

That map is wrong about my state. 16 if you're under 18, 17 if you're over 18..

On that same token, no it should be no older or younger than 18. If you're old enough to go to war and fight and die for the country you're old enough for sex.

Still-alive · Answer

just make it a standard 18 across the U. S it should be a federal amendment even. Age of consent laws are wayy complex and confusing as it is keeping it at the state level

UncleJessieRabbit · Answer

No, I understand why people would be concerned about the age of consent, but my concern is that the radical feminists will start having a field day with it and use it to justify a different standard of law for men and for women.

slatyb · Answer

Maybe, but with close-in-age exceptions. We don't want to prosecute a 20-year-old for having sex with a 17-year-old, but 24 and 16? Maybe we do.

crazy8000 · Answer

Do you want to create more potential criminals? Isn't your prisons over crowded as it is? Hope you realize prisons are a excellent place to create and educate heavy criminals.

Drumlin2001 · Answer

How would it have any effect on paedophiles? If you're going to talk to a 11yr old dosen't matter if age of consent is 16 or 21.

Likethesky · Answer

Brain development stops at 25 by the way. If we are going to make whole new set of laws based on the age of consent being at 25 which are probably not going to change anything then I wouldn't bother with raising it. Would be just wasting time.

ElizaPam · Answer

Adult men have no business with girls who haven’t finished puberty

imfreeze95 · Answer

I knew a couple who were married when they were thirteen and fourteen CONSENSUALLY might I add they were married for 70 happy golden years and loved each other very much

Malik00 · Answer

Oh yeah sure, Try telling a bunch of horny college students they aren't allowed to have sex until they are 25. Let's see how well that works out for you.

Deathraider · Answer

I think it should be uniformly 18 in every state. 20-21 is a bit old. Look, if someone is old enough to die for the country, they should be old enough to have sex.

Anonymous · Answer

I thought it is 25 ? Tbh dating someone significantly younger than you is creepy 50 year old dating 30 year old is creepy and yes I am judging you for it

Frank_Woods · Answer

But then where would Bill Clinton get all his girlfriends?

John8298 · Answer

Well yes, but there would be a major incarceration increase. I believe 16 is too low, 18 is better because that's adulthood anyways.

Levin · Answer

I vote to make it 40.  No USians should be allowed to have sex until they hit 40.

AustColombiangirl · Answer

No. I come from Colombia where age of consent is 14

genericname85 · Answer

what would that change? kids these days are fucking around when they're 12 or 13 already anyway.

WhiteSteve · Answer

At very least it should be 18. Bugs me out that it’s 16 in so many places😒

Minahh · Answer

Yes definitely. Here in my country it's 15. I think it should be at least 18. I don't think 15 year olds fully understand the consequences of their actions.

Surely · Answer

Probably wouldn’t be enforced. Can’t imagine many people waiting till twenty one to have sex. Should the voting age and the draft be increased also?

NorthwestRider · Answer

It should be the same as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Western European nations, etc  Same with drinking

Should the age of consent in the US be increased?

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