To think we should up the age of consent to 18?

[whatnet]

I just have this utterly sick feeling about the constant narrative pushed in the UK about a CHILD being ‘16’ and therefore, “what is your problem?”… “it’s ‘legal’” I am so sick of the exploitation of our girls in this country. Our CHILDREN. Our future. Who do not have a voice, because they are children. They need to be protected. I will pre empt some of your arguments. The UK government has classified the violence against Women and Girls as a “National Threat”

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/tackling-violence-against-women-and-girls-in-the-uk/

A 16 year old girl is a child and should be protected as a child, by law.

This is exactly what's needed here

jlpth · Today 18:53

HamBone · 19/09/2023 00:32

Where I live, we have an interesting. compromise.

15 is the age of consent for teenagers aged 15-17. So a 15 or 16-year-old could legally sleep with their 17-year-old partner, but no one older.

If one partner is 18, the age of consent for both is raised to 18. It’s to prevent teenagers from being exploited by adults. I think it makes sense.
This is exactly what's needed here

Thank you

“ehupo7 · Yesterday 09:13

This thread is ridiculous, why is there post after post of copied and pasted wiki pages. Pointless.”

Why is it “pointless” to try and back up my argument? Surely as the OP it is up to me to try and prove my argument, and you, who does not agree with my original post, to also back up your point of view with some supporting evidence?

Where is your evidence?

BIossomtoes · 01/10/2023 23:00

You’ve been talking to yourself for two hours.

I was trying to back up my argument. Something I feel strongly about. I think you were well aware of the picture that you painted when you said, “you’ve been talking to yourself for two hours” Do you have more you would like to add to the discussion? I would be interested to hear it?

It is the sort of narrative our 16 and 17 year olds find themselves within. Well, you’re an adult, it’s your fault, you’re old enough, it’s your problem.

No, love, I’m 70. It stopped being my problem 50 odd years ago. I do remember how ferocious my sex drive was when I was 16 though. Maybe you don’t?

BIossomtoes · Today 20:45

whatnet · Today 20:42

“BIossomtoes · 01/10/2023 23:00

You’ve been talking to yourself for two hours.

I was trying to back up my argument. Something I feel strongly about. I think you were well aware of the picture that you painted when you said, “you’ve been talking to yourself for two hours” Do you have more you would like to add to the discussion? I would be interested to hear it?

It is the sort of narrative our 16 and 17 year olds find themselves within. Well, you’re an adult, it’s your fault, you’re old enough, it’s your problem.
No, love, I’m 70. It stopped being my problem 50 odd years ago. I do remember how ferocious my sex drive was when I was 16 though. Maybe you dont”

I am really not interested in my own “sex drive” or anyone else’s. I am concerned about protecting CHILDREN. Thanks for your input. It is actually really insightful.

I agree the age of consent should be 18. Now the age for marriage has risen to 18, I think they should be the same. In fact I thought that the age of consent for sex and marriage were meant to be the same?

In theory this is a good idea but...a 15 year old could be having sex with their 17 year old boyfriend/girlfriend legally. Then the 17 year old turns 18 and it would suddenly be illegal until the 15 year old turns 18.

Sexually I wasn’t a CHILD when I was 16. I was a young woman who wanted a bloody good seeing to.

Comedycook · Today 20:52

whatnet · Today 18:55

jlpth · Today 18:53

HamBone · 19/09/2023 00:32

Where I live, we have an interesting. compromise.

15 is the age of consent for teenagers aged 15-17. So a 15 or 16-year-old could legally sleep with their 17-year-old partner, but no one older.

If one partner is 18, the age of consent for both is raised to 18. It’s to prevent teenagers from being exploited by adults. I think it makes sense.
This is exactly what's needed here

Thank you
In theory this is a good idea but...a 15 year old could be having sex with their 17 year old boyfriend/girlfriend legally. Then the 17 year old turns 18 and it would suddenly be illegal until the 15 year old turns 18.

But! Society and CPS are not actively going after teen to teen consensual sex 🤦‍♀️. Why is this so hard to grasp, unless there is an ulterior motive? This thread is utterly baffling, unless there is an ulterior motive? Why? For what purpose does it serve you to be so opposed to upping the age of consent? There hasn’t been one reasonable explanation or objection. I have girls, so I could understand mums of boys being worried. However, the Romeo and Juliet laws should be a way around this. Equally girls could be the older one in the relationship so it works both ways. It’s about protecting our kids from older predators. The nonsense arguments on here make me think that our children need even more protection.

BIossomtoes · Today 21:02

Sexually I wasn’t a CHILD when I was 16. I was a young woman who wanted a bloody good seeing to.

You need professional help and I sincerely hope you have no children in your care.

I really don’t need professional help. I’m an old woman who remembers being young. Of course I haven’t got any children in my care. I suspect mine are older than you.

You’re not making any argument, you’re copying and pasting full random wiki pages (eg the wiki page for the Paedophile Information Exchange from the 70s 😵‍💫) without commentary.

It‘s bizarre.

I have posted actual responses, written by me (not copied + pasted from the internet), upthread, and you’ve ignored them entirely.

No, this would be policing young people rather than changing the behaviour of predators. Some young people can quite reasonably agree to sexual relationships with older people at 16. Instead we should be changing the behaviour of people and a society that prizes very young and the culture where young girls think being desired is more important than their own desire. That would set people up for life.

@whatnet because at 16 I would have happily have had sex with quite a few 18 year olds. I was 16 when I started 6th form and you're talking being in y12 at the end of the year and a y13 with a September birthday and already 18. Why should that be illegal and not consensual to a 16 year old capable of that. For the record I lost my virginity at 18 (wasn't so popular at 6th form ha!) to a 28 year old man, it was 100% consensual and wouldn't have changed a thing. 16 year old girls want to have sex and are capable of consent.

You've misinterpreted me. I agree the age of consent should be 18. I'm just pointing out a flaw with the potential solution of turning a blind eye if teens are sleeping with other teens. Once one turns 18, it would suddenly become illegal when they are already in a relationship.

I was so sexually frustrated at 16 I was chewing my own arm off. Fortunately I ended up having a sexual relationship with someone my own age and we explored together. I was definitely capable of consent and very, very up for it!

Hence why I don't think it would work. Therefore raising the age to 18 is a better solution. It's clear cut and understandable.

Why on earth are you concerned with commenting on a thread, that at its heart is really about sexual predators, about a collective response to the bullshit in the media, the inept courts, the patriarchal society we are governed by. A very small request to up the age of consent from 16 to 18 to give a tiny bit more protection to our CHILDREN. You are shouting about your sexual experiences and sex lives. What the actual f is wrong with you? #protectourchildren

“HermioneWeasley · Today 21:54

I was so sexually frustrated at 16 I was chewing my own arm off. Fortunately I ended up having a sexual relationship with someone my own age and we explored together. I was definitely capable of consent and very, very up for it!
Thanks
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Reply”

You absolutely do not sound like someone who is interested in protecting Children’s rights. So why even comment? Just to prove Chidren have no rights in your nonsensical world? Just because you, “are up for it”

I would kindly ask for a measured argument from those who are desperately defending not raising the age of consent from 16 to 18… a measured argument, based on facts, and also keeping in mind, the safeguarding of children. I look forward to your responses.

@Yazo spot on. The real issue of predatory behaviour is not addressed by policing the perfectly natural sexual behaviour of older teens.

You could look at my other posts before throwing out wild accusations. I am very interested in protecting children. I am not supportive of increasing the age of consent based on my experience of being sexual and perfectly capable of consent aged 16. And frankly the age of consent being higher wouldn’t have stopped me.

if you had been posting about ways of protecting young women from predators and exploitation, that would be great, but your continued position is that 16 year olds don’t experience sexual arousal and can’t consent to sex and I disagree.

@whatnet what will such a change achieve in terms of protecting young people from exploitation and predation by older adults, and how will you manage same age consensual sexual relationships between under 18s?

16 year olds can consent to major medical treatments. They can choose where they live. They can work and pay taxes. Saying they are nit able to consent to sex with a peer, or that they do not have sexual feelings is just refusing to accept reality.

I have raised teenagers. Two have had sex under 18. None have been exploited by someone much older.

OP, I feel really sorry for your daughters.

Sex is natural and it's something people enjoy. People want to have sex - and yes, that includes teenagers.

Your hand-wringing and treating sexuality like it's something disgusting and dangerous and should only be done sparingly when strict criteria is met and both participants are older than 21 is hugely damaging.

Teach your daughters about healthy relationships, do your best to make sure they're not exploited and allow them to live their lives. They might be attracted to older partners and despite your beliefs, those partners might treat them with the kind of respect they would never receive from someone their own age.

But one thing is certain: one day they will have sex, and you need to prepare yourself for that. Given your attitude I wouldn't be surprised if they did all they could to hide it from you.