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Originally Posted by smooth
lebell,
while I see where you're coming from, I would appreciate it if you would offer your thoughts in light of the following:
In my first post to mephisto, I allowed that an abuse of trust or power may be going on--so I don't disagree that the power differential ought to be examined.
But if it was true love, they could have also moved to Ohio or Missouri. There, sex with 14 year olds is legal.
(In at least one state, marriage to 13 year olds is legal with parental consent--I don't know what that translates into real world practice in the bedroom or courts, however).
This fact that their behavior is legal in other parts of our own country is part of the reasoning that was underpinning my reluctance to classify this as a closed-case of exploitation due to the age factor.
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Not knowing the marriage laws of those states, I can't say conclusively, but if indeed a 13 year old can marry anyone of any age with parental consent, I would agree that there is a disparity across state lines...but when has this never been the case? Whether we like it or not, the people of that state have decided thus, as have the other states decided as they have. Is this the ideal situation? Obviously not, but I see no easy remedy.
Personally, I would add to any 'reluctance' the historical precident cited above, but in defense of my position, I will reiterate that modern child psychology strongly indicates that children are not ready to make such a life changing decision at that age (such a decision being beyond the simple, "let's lose my virginity") and that parents should still be responsible for such decisions. (That being said, parental permission is still apparently required by said state, giving at least one measure of safety, albiet small and possibly unreliable.)
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I agree that we shouldn't remove protections of minors wholesale since exploitation does occur, but perhaps we can modify them to allow for a more fair allowance of the wishes of the minors who can demonstrate that they are not being exploited.
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I believe there are emancipation laws on the books in several states and IMO, this is enough. Even in cases where there is historical precedence, the (young) woman was expected to run a household as the adult wife, age not withstanding.
And perhaps it is my own bias, but I don't think I can ever see a 14 year old as being ready for this. Sixteen would be the youngest I can see as giving this responsibility to, but I admit that I am pulling that number out of the air as an internal compromise.