Violet,
I think it is hard to argue that overall little girls (or for that matter little boys) are not more trusting on average than are adults of either sex. The law takes the view that you have to of a certain age to be eligible for sex. Whilst I would agree that there are 13 year old girls who could pass for 20 and 13 year old girls that look exactly what they are if not younger the societal rule is that there is no harm in all of them waiting for their first sexual experience. There do appear to be good medical reasons for doing so.
There are no guarantees that age brings wisdom but in an imperfect world its about the best we can come up with.
The scope for abuse of children by adults is seen as being higher than for other consenting adults. A differentiation should be made between sub-adults of similar age experiencing sexual exploration together and an adult / child sexual relationship.
In general and idealized terms I tend to look for equality in relationships. I am a 48 year old man that has been married for a very long time and has a daughter aged 11. She, in my opinion is not ready for a sexual relationship with an adult. She probably has played games like "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" in the equivalent of behind the bike sheds and has probably started to explore her own body but these are a far cry from a full on sexual relationship.
At the same time if I were ever to have an affair (unlikely after 29 years) it would almost certainly be with someone close to my own age. A 25 year old may be considered an adult to society but not to me. I grant that this wouldn't be paedophilia in the traditional sense, nor that I would necessarily be able to abuse the relationship but it would, to me, represent something of a character flaw that I would want such a relationship other than due to pleasing appearance.
That character flaw would have to be much magnified in my opinion where we are talking about a significant age difference and one party is sub-adult (say 15 or younger). It is also worth bearing in mind that if the attraction of the older party is purely for the youth of the other there is little possibility in that turning out to be a long term relationship.
Adults that repeatedly prey on sub-adults for their own sexual gratification are not ones I would wish on any child.
It is with that in mind that, imperfect as the law is, I am happy its there.
I think it is hard to argue that overall little girls (or for that matter little boys) are not more trusting on average than are adults of either sex. The law takes the view that you have to of a certain age to be eligible for sex. Whilst I would agree that there are 13 year old girls who could pass for 20 and 13 year old girls that look exactly what they are if not younger the societal rule is that there is no harm in all of them waiting for their first sexual experience. There do appear to be good medical reasons for doing so.
There are no guarantees that age brings wisdom but in an imperfect world its about the best we can come up with.
The scope for abuse of children by adults is seen as being higher than for other consenting adults. A differentiation should be made between sub-adults of similar age experiencing sexual exploration together and an adult / child sexual relationship.
In general and idealized terms I tend to look for equality in relationships. I am a 48 year old man that has been married for a very long time and has a daughter aged 11. She, in my opinion is not ready for a sexual relationship with an adult. She probably has played games like "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" in the equivalent of behind the bike sheds and has probably started to explore her own body but these are a far cry from a full on sexual relationship.
At the same time if I were ever to have an affair (unlikely after 29 years) it would almost certainly be with someone close to my own age. A 25 year old may be considered an adult to society but not to me. I grant that this wouldn't be paedophilia in the traditional sense, nor that I would necessarily be able to abuse the relationship but it would, to me, represent something of a character flaw that I would want such a relationship other than due to pleasing appearance.
That character flaw would have to be much magnified in my opinion where we are talking about a significant age difference and one party is sub-adult (say 15 or younger). It is also worth bearing in mind that if the attraction of the older party is purely for the youth of the other there is little possibility in that turning out to be a long term relationship.
Adults that repeatedly prey on sub-adults for their own sexual gratification are not ones I would wish on any child.
It is with that in mind that, imperfect as the law is, I am happy its there.
