The Age of Consent: Young People, Sexuality and Citizenship

by Matthew Waites

The Age of Consent; Young People, Sexuality and Citizenship addresses the contentious issue of how children's sexual behaviour should be regulated. The text ·A unique history of age of consent laws in the UK, analysed via contemporary social theory ·A global comparative survey of age of consent laws and relevant international human rights law ·A critical analysis of how protectionist agendas shaped new age of consent laws in England and Wales in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 ·In-depth theoretical discussion of the rationale for age of consent laws ·An original proposal to reduce the age of consent to 14 for young people who are less than two years apart in age Responding to contemporary concerns about young people's sexual behaviour, sexual abuse and paedophilia, this book will engage readers in law and socio-legal studies, sociology, history, politics, social policy, youth and childhood studies, and gender and sexuality studies; and professionals and practitioners working with young people.

Genres: Sexuality

293 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2005

Reviews

[Sam Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just reread this because I am doing a citizenship focused independent reading in preparation for comps next year and because I am interested in how citizenship relates to age. For me, the really theoretically interesting thing about this book is its demonstration of how citizenship is differentiated by age. Not another subject citizen redux, this is talking about a different set of ideals - e.g. Protection over Autonomy. The strong focus on law and the context of the UK are not super useful for me, but I still appreciated learning a smidge of the intellectual and social histories that gave rise to current laws and ideals. Overall, this is about what you would hope it to be, given the title, not much more, but also no less. Definitely a solid contribution to the field his advisor, Jeffrey Weeks, helped build (by which I mean sociology of sexual citizenship).

[Steelwhisper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed resource with startling insights.