CMJR 494 response to Evan's question week 8

3) Last week I was intrigued by Gary Atkins’ presentation about definitions of Child Pornography and worldwide ages of consent relating to having sex. I found it very interesting that even though an American citizen may travel outside of the United States, the same sexual consent laws still apply even in an international setting and the same applies for foreign citizens when the come to visit the United States. I have several questions based upon the class discussion. 1) How much of a role do you think biology plays or should play in determining the legal age for two consenting people to have sex? 2) Based upon different cultural understandings of consent relating to sex, can you still hold someone from one culture accountable in another culture for any violation of sexual consent laws they may have committed in a different country? For example the legal age of sexual consent in Washington State is 16/18 meaning that it is legal for a 16-year-old male to have sex with an 18-year-old female. In the Philippines it is legal for a 12-year-old male to have sex with an 18-year-old female. If an 18-year-old female citizen of the Philippines comes to the United States and has sex with a 12-year-old male can you hold her accountable and charge her with rape? Or do you excuse her because according to her cultural understanding it is accepted even though she was in the United States when the sexual act was committed? If the scenario was reversed and an 18-year-old male had sex with a 12-year-old female would it make a difference? Based upon this knowledge does your answer about how much biology should be involved in determining the age of consent change? If so why or why not?

This topic cultivates quite a discussion. The age of consent internationally is an interesting issue. I believe as an American citizen we should be held to the same expectation legally around the world. The lines get blurred if we don't sustain this same standard. Although I do believe there is a double standard when it comes to sex. Why is it socially acceptable for a 16 year old boy to sleep with an 18 year old women but if you reverse this scenario it is rape?  I don't think biology should be involved in decisions of age of consent. So much of this issue is tied up in religion. Four boys in Iraq were just hung in public to denounce the act of homosexuality. Why such a horrendous act? The government can justify the execution of teenagers in the name of Allah and the Muslim religion. There is absolutely no logic in religion when it comes to sex. It is harmful to society and the progression towards a greater good. When will religion be extrapolated from law?