Age of consent/average age to loose virginity, feminist issue?

tabard I know the laws here! I've not mentioned statutory rape?

NI has the same age of consent as the uk.

No, not at all. I think 16 is a perfectly good age for consent, as the law stands.

What I would argue is two things;

1. That the law needs to be equal for both male and female parties engaging in sex
2. That using the law as a deterrent for your under-16 child, isn't going to work, and that the better option is to educate them and allow them to make their own choices. Sure, you can try to deter them, but from experience a 14/15yo will do what they want to do. Better to be safe.

Alexa there is no such thing here as "statutory rape" for a start, and I think in the US there are different laws in different states about age of consent, sexual acts and so on. UK is a bit different - England and Wales share laws on this, Scotland has independence but laws are similar.

I admit I don't know much about consent laws in NI. Given their abortion laws I am a bit scared to look.

crocodile but isn't changing the law the first step in reaching equality?

Gay and straight couples aren't yet equal in all things, hence the law needs to be changed to rectify this.

So, Alexa, you agree then that you are simply here to argue for the age of consent to be lowered ?

Cross posted Alexa

I don't what any of this has to do with being a feminist.

Although, I have to agree I fail to see what this has to do with feminism.

No! The question the OP posed was 'Is it right to tell young women (or men) to wait untill they are 16 to have sex despite people reaching sexual maturity at all different ages?'

And the point being made, is that some people do mature at different ages, therefore I, personally, don't think the 'wait until you are 16 because the law says so', is a useable argument.

This is nothing to do with feminism. Its madness.

I remember when I was 12, I found out that my friend had slept with her boyfriend. She was 12, he was 14. I was genuinely appalled and that's not because I was less mature than her, its because I knew we were children and sex was illegal. Simple.

Men and women are not yet equal in all things in this country. Particularly on relation to PIV sex. Therefore the law must reflect this.

There will always be exceptions to the rules. One size fits all doesn't exist. Most laws will have a 'necessary evil' element to them. It truly sucks. But what is the alternative?

I apologise - I am American and didn't think about its relevance. I just remember the case and noted it here. Sorry for the confusion.

So, people are arguing on this thread for the age of consent to be lowered ? Why don't you just come out and say it.

"She looked 14, Guv, honest..."

Like Freya I am interested to know why a case in the US is being brought up on a thread about UK laws (assuming England/Wales - laws differ in other parts of the UK).

Law in England/Wales is very specific as to definitions of sexual offences, and the INTENT of the law as published on CPS is clear regarding consensual sex between teens over age of 13.

I have absolutely no problem with the law in this area as it stands. It exists so as to enable prosecution where suitable, while understanding that teens will get it on in a consensual way and that is fine.

All works for me. The idea that in this jurisdiction there is a danger for a eg 16yo boy to be prosecuted for being in a consensual sexual relationship with a 15 yo girl is a rape myth.

Indeed, Gosh. Kinda worrying.

freya the anecdotes are showing that if a 14 yo wants to have sex, they will. The best thing a parent can do, is make sure they are safe.

The age of consent in a lot of European countries is 14.

Do you think they are actively encouraging children to have sex?

I don't think that having serious relationships at 13/14 is really the best start to the making of a feminist imo. How could you possibly know what you want from a relationship at that stage?
It is encouraging neediness to a degree which is hardly a feminist trait.

Mist - I have massive worries about who might be reading these threads full of people saying that at 13 and 14 they were "ready" to have sex.

My children have shown no signs of being gay whatsoever and I'm quite sure if they were and they wanted to embark upon a sexual relationship, with the same sex friends they've had sleepovers with, they would speak to me about that.

However, if they did want to embark on a sexual relationship as a child, I most certainly wouldn't make them up a bed and give them a packet of condoms.

That's called looking after your children.

I didn't have sex at 14. My parents wouldn't have allowed it. What are these personal anecdotes meant to be showing?

It's a child protection issue for under 13's, sure.

13/14/15/16.. That's grey area. Children mature at wildly different rates around the puberty years. Having a one size fits all law doesn't work.

Which is why they have now specified that the law isn't there to deal with similarly aged underage couples. Because, that's consent.

"Putting an age limit on it is restrictive and pointless."

That statement is a sex abuser's dream. Jimmy would be soooo proud.