| > [...] the notion that a 16-17 year old girl can date a 22 year old boy was not so unusual in the 1970s I don't know how unusual it is now, but in most of the world now it would be legal. Since laws against things widely seen as immoral tend to be easy to pass I'd guess that means that in most of the world a majority wouldn't have much of a problem with it (unless it was their daughter). Here's a look at age of consent around the world. This is age of consent where the older person is not in a position of authority over the younger person, such as a teacher. In most of Europe the age of consent is in the 14-16 range. Only Cypress (17), Ireland (17), Turkey (18), and Vatican City (18) are higher. It's 16 in 20 countries there, 15 in 12 countries, and 14 in 14 countries. In South America age of consent is 13-16, with 14 being the most common. In Asia its mostly 16. In Africa its mostly 16 or 18 or "must be married". 15-18 in Oceania. 16 in most of Australia (17 in South Australia and Tasmania). 16 in New Zealand. North America is mostly 12-18. 16 in Canada, 16-18 in the US (18 in 11 states, 17 in 6 states, 16 in 33 states and DC). Mexico is ridiculously complicated and inconsistent...about all you can say with certainty is that if the other person has not yet hit puberty it definitely is not legal. Past that you are into a mess of "it depends". Most of the rest of North America is either 16 or 18. |