The age of consent is a serious issue all over the world. In first-world countries like Germany, Ireland, Canada, England, America and Australia, there is a national age at which an individual is declared independent and legally competent to consent to sexual acts. After reaching the age at which an individual is allowed to engage in sexual activities, he is not restricted by parents, the government and other authorities. Many mental health professionals, as well as sociologists, have discussed this issue in depth, arguing that sexual desire should be fulfilled and should not be forced to remain unfulfilled. Every society has its own ways of discussing this point. In many areas of the world, the age of consent is 14, and in some areas, it is raised to 21. The age of consent in the United States is 16 to 18. It varies from state to state. The main aim of the discussion is to provide an argument about whether the age of consent should be raised or not (Sutherland, 2002).
Sexual Assault and the Limits of Consent Laws
In the United States, cases of sexual assault on the young population have increased, and it is now a serious problem whether the age of consent should be increased or not. According to a number of international as well as national surveys, the age of consent doesn’t matter in the scenario of sexual assault. The targets are not only children or teenagers but also adults. I would highly recommend improving law enforcement measures, as they are implemented in the United Kingdom, since I have observed the way the authorities have acted to overcome the safety issue of underage individuals in society. I would argue, with respect to sexual assault, that raising the age of consent would not be helpful in keeping children away from situations that result in sexual abuse and voluntary involvement in sexual activity (Garfinkle, 2003; Sutherland, 2002).
Teenage Autonomy and Access to Sexual Knowledge
The concept of hiding a positive topic from a specific age group, which may then seek information from illegal sources anyway, leads me to say that the age of consent should not be increased in any case. Teenagers have developed their sexual desires and their bodies towards sexual activity, which forces them to disobey the rules of the land about the age of consent. A survey conducted by the CDC found that most of the population under the age of consent intentionally disobeys the rules with respect to sexual activity and sexual desires. Teenagers should be given exposure to this topic and should be allowed to decide for themselves.
Maturity Education and Life Management
Teenagers should be able to make their own life decisions after proper schooling and learning life management skills. These skills come after a certain period of time, almost at the end of the teenage period. The government should understand the concept in this way and should increase both boys’ and girls’ ages of consent. This will help the teenage group to focus on their studies, social activities and other matters of life. The distraction of sex, pleasure and romance will not waste their time and emotions, which are not even properly tutored and dressed.
Early Pregnancy and the Case for a Higher Age
A large number of people in the United States who have faced the issue of early-age pregnancies have developed the concept that an increase in the age of consent should be implemented all over the world, as having children and pregnancies at a very young age are serious problems for the entire future life. I would suggest that at least the age of consent for girls should be raised so that they would be able to make their careers and become groomed without any kind of involvement in sex (Forhan et al., 2009).
Emotional Readiness and Health Responsibility
Young teens aged 16 to 18 are not physically or mentally prepared for the most serious matter of life, which is sex and relationships. This age group is highly emotional and is unable to make proper and correct decisions in their lives. Their choices are not always correct, and the possibility of making wrong decisions because of a lack of experience is high. I would recommend raising the age of consent. Children are not mentally prepared to become responsible for taking precautions against pregnancy and diseases like STDs (Forhan et al., 2009).
The Recommendation to Raise the Age of Consent
In a nutshell, I would suggest and conclude that the age of consent should be increased to at least 19 to 21. Government laws have a significant role in making adults responsible for their teenage children. Bearing a child is a long, sensitive, painful and stressful process. Girls should avoid it before they are properly groomed. An adult aged 20 to 25 is able to take care of the unborn child herself. Men should focus on their careers because after the age of 22 to 24, they would not be able to find enough time and money to complete their education and meet the demands of the market. That’s why it is suggested that the age of consent for both male and female individuals should be raised so that they would be able to handle their lives rather than engage in serious mental and physical tragedies.
Works Cited
Berson, Ilene R., Michael J. Berson, and John M. Ferron. “Emerging risks of violence in the digital age: Lessons for educators from an online study of adolescent girls in the United States.” Journal of School Violence 1.2 (2002): 51-71.
Garfinkle, Elizabeth. “Coming of age in America: The misapplication of sex-offender registration and community-notification laws to juveniles.” Cal. L. Rev. 91 (2003): 163.
Cox, Robert W. “Social forces, states and world orders: beyond international relations theory.” Millennium 10.2 (1981): 126-155.
Sutherland, Kate. “From jailbird to jailbait: Age of consent laws and the construction of teenage sexualities.” Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 9 (2002): 313.
Forhan, Sara E., et al. “Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among female adolescents aged 14 to 19 in the United States.” Pediatrics 124.6 (2009): 1505-1512.
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