Age of consent

[Allan]

Should the age of consent be changed?

[adryley]

Yes. An age of consent of 16 criminalises more than half of this country's teenagers. This age was set in 1885 and there is no evidence that 16 is the age of sexual or emotional maturity.

[modge]

Age of consent has nothing to do with it. Although we have a higher age of consent than many other Western countries, we also have a higher rate of teenage pregnancies, abortions and HIV infections, and a lower average age of first sexual experience. Perhaps we need to look at how sex is presented to young people in this country.

[FionaS]

No: whilst I agree that there is no evidence that at 16 people obtain emotional and/or sexual maturity, there is similarly no evidence to say it is either younger or older. I don't believe there is any age that will please everyone so we are just as well served by leaving it where it is.

[sassylassy]

the age of consent was set to protect young people. it is a fact that the younger girls start having sex, the chances of getting cervical cancer later in life is increased. it is also a fact that all the sex education in this country is a waste of time when teenagers are subjected to the conflicting images portrayed in the media. why else is there such a high rate of teenage pregnancies? it isn't because the information isn't available, it isn't because contraception isn't available, surely it is due to it being 'cool' and fashionable to wear clothes from the ages of 12 onwards that make you look like an 18 year old. that teenage magazines are publishing positions of the week, and parents seem unable to say 'no' to whatever is demanded of them. consequently we have a generation of people growing up who think the world owes them a living and that they are invincible. i am sorry for getting on my soap-box, but this is something i feel really strongly about. i look back at myself at sixteen and think, there is NO WAY i was ready to have sex. if you are ready to have sex you should be ready to take on the responsiblity of a child, because that is what it was invented for!! :D