When the topics on underage sexual relations are discussed, what crosses the mind is the aspects of sexual misuse and abuse such as rape or a form of non-mutual sexual consent between underage and an overage. Such forms of sexual relations have been criminalized for ages. In modern society, pairs of underage sexual relations pose a great dilemma to everyone because its occurrences hit differently for different people. While one person considers taking a teenager who engages in these relations to face the law, another feels the same kid's future. Therefore, underage sexual relations should not be criminalized.
Although this is a proposal that should be added in the bill, it is worth noting that most of these relations are mutual consent with the teenage mindset. It is part of human development to experience these sexual demands from an early age (Harduf, 2019). Any child's decisions will depend on numerous factors in lines with his/her environment, culture, beliefs, religion, genealogy, and other determinants. For example, a kid born by a teenager would have high chances of falling into the same trap when it comes to her turn. In this case, the kid, especially one whose parent did not strain bring them up, will use the fact that her mother used the same path to defend her immoral action. It will therefore be unfair, taking such a kid to a court having copied her mother. Occasional talks with their mothers concerning underage sexual relations would be the best actions for such teenagers.
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A child who is under the age of twenty remains immature in making decisions on sexual matters. At this age, every child is under the care of the parent who could, in any case, carry the burden of any punishment that befalls his/her child. Therefore, it is absurd to use adult standards of discipline to teenagers with little awareness of sexual relations (Bayliss, 2020). Nevertheless, thinking that parents will always control their youngsters is naive because teens are naturally rebellious. Most often, nurture is trumped by nature. To enhance teenagers' maturity, guiding kids move and parental punishment would work best for children who engage in underage sexual relations instead of enforcing laws that they do not have a grip about. Therefore, underage sexual relations should not be criminalized.
There are some similarities and differences between the communities and law enforcement views about the criminalization of underage sexual relations. While law enforcers strictly follow the book to decide on the kind of punishment, the community considers the worth of the involved kind to his/her parents and the society at large. Due to the cost incurred to bring the kid up, sentimentality will always protect the child from the community's torment. On the other hand, the law will focus on meeting its duties, even when it means to ruin the kid's life (Bayliss, 2020). However, it a point of consensus between both interventions to ensure our children are protected from the regrets associated with underage sexual relations, such as unwanted pregnancies, school dropping, non-informed disease transmissions.
While I strongly disapprove of criminalizing underage sexual relations, the opposition has different opinions altogether. People argue that sentencing kids who have been found in this act will give them a chance to meet interactively expertise who will influence the rest of their life reasonably (Harduf, 2019). Moreover, people vary in wisdom, and despite being of the same age, some teenagers are found tricking their colleagues due to specific weaknesses. For example, some naughty kids have been caught in consensual sexual relations with disabled kids who tend to fall in easily into this trap. Moreover, some kids have shown indicators of change from such behaviors, and in fear of what they would turn to be when they enter adulthood, people aught they be jailed differently from parental screaming.
In conclusion, underage sexual relations should not be criminalized. Teenage relationships would be better dealt with between kids and parents or at least school counselors. It is unfair to take kids who barely know what is right and how to overcome wrong against their weaknesses. Considering the biological view of how hormones work, children still can interact healthily, which is the parents' responsibility to teach them.
References
Harduf, A. (2019). Statutory is Not Rape: Reshaping the Criminalization of Underage Sex, and Beyond. Available at SSRN 3472242 .
Bayliss, B. (2020). The Kids Are Alright: Teen Sexting, Child Pornography Charges, and the Criminalization of Adolescent Sexuality. U. Colo. L. Rev. , 91 , 251.
