What is the right age for sex?

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1.3 The legal age of consent is set at different time in different region and even in some given country. In the US for instance, the age of consent will hence vary from 16 to 18 depending on the state. These laws are aimed at preventing the sexual victimization and sexual abuse of children and adolescents. People should be aware of these legal parameters and must abide by them so that they do not violate the said norms and avoid facing serious legal consequences.

1.4 Cultural and Social Norms

1.5 Ideological and social attitudes to sex also influence the question about the right age for sex. In some cultures there is never an aspect of premarital sex while in others premarital sex is just an open attitude. It is the cultural practices that may shape one’s decisions on sex and attitudes towards sex. For example, in most of the westerns states there is an increasing trend toward premarital relationships with a stress on the safety and consent.

1.6 Education and Knowledge

1.7 Provision of information that equips young people with knowledge on sex related matters is crucial in empowering them to make better choices with respect to sex. Sex education can include information and learning about pregnancy and contraception, abstinence, and healthy sexual relationships to encourage individuals to make the best choices. Research has demonstrated that the use of comprehensive sex education programs enables postponing the onset of sexual activity and reduces the risk of contracting STIs as well as the rates of unplanned pregnancies.

The decision about the right age for sex is a long and controversial process based on such factors as physical development, sexual desire, cultural values, and the law. The following statement should be framed in a way that it does not stigmatise any one aspect of an individual’s decision and recognises the multifaceted nature of it.

Physical Maturity

From a biological design, puberty refers to the age in which the body becomes full-fledged capable of reproducing. Puberty begins at age 8 to 13 for girls and age 9 to 14 for boys. But being physically capable does not mean that you are capable of handling the responsibilities and the consequences that very often comes along with sexual intercourse such as pregnancy or STI.

Emotional Readiness

Emotional development is perhaps more essential and critical than physical growth. To achieve sexual intimacy one person must possess the right intellectual and emotional quotient. People should be able to talk to each other in an understandable understandable manner and respect their private space as well as deal with the emotional consequences afterward. It is noted that some factors impede a person’s further development, for instance, his or her emotional and psychological development, which may often lag behind physical growth.