>>520824291
>18
Most states are 16, many are 17. Only a handful are 18, but they include California and Florida. The myth that age of consent is 18 stems from pornography and prostitution laws.

If the US were to remain logically consistent, the laws should be changed to match the culture. So what was the culture that led to an age of consent in the teens?

People were basically adults by the time they could legally fuck. It wasn’t unheard of for a guy that age to start a job that paid a living wage and be able to afford a middle class lifestyle. Yes, even a fucking teenager could get a job at a factory or something and make enough money to support a family right out of high school (or before finishing). People also got married much younger, and the laws reflected this.

Now, the average age of a first time home buyer is over 30. The average age of a first marriage is ~27. People don’t even move out of their parents homes, and usually with roommates, until their mid 20’s. To reflect this current reality, the age of consent should be raised to ~25.

Right now, the ages are completely arbitrary. There’s no reasoning behind them, at least not in a modern paradigm. There hasn’t been for years. If a 17yo get pregnant, there’s zero chance the 17yo father can find a job that pause enough to raise a family. It hasn’t existed for decades. On the other hand, the laws predate abortion on demand and hormonal birth control. That 17yo could just take a morning after pill if she hasn’t been in birth control since she was 12 (spoiled: they all have, lol). Failing that, abortion exists.

The culture has changed drastically as well. A girl girl getting pregnant doesn’t mean she has to get married and start a family. The father doesn’t even need to be involved; he can just be a pay pig for 18 years.

Because of the option for birth control, abortion, and the culture of parenthood, it would also logical to abolish the age of consent entirely.