title: The age of sexual consent.
abstract: In 1899 the age of sexual consent in some American jurisdictions was 9 years. It has ranged from 7 to 21 years and at present the range is from 11 to 18 years. The age selected seems to be an arbitrary matter, the product of legislative compromise. The age of sexual consent should not be so early that little protection is provided for a child. Conversely, it should not be so late that a man can be held for statutory rape when the "victim" is fully capable of informed consent and readily acquiesced to a proposal or even invited a sexual relationship.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D008297:Male; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States