Re: Their brains are different

Our brains change throughout our lives. Teenagers have different perspectives and a lack of experience, and frequently have not learned patience. Nonetheless, preventing them from exercising their mental powers does little to protect them and generally just delays or prevents their development as human beings. The "immature brain" myth is just one more means of imposing control over the young - and it's not even anything new. It was the same justification used for relegating women and minorities to second-class status - and it is amazing how quickly it is forgotten should a teenager commit a major crime.

I do differ from some youth liberationists in this matter: I believe that we should recognize a transition period between childhood and adulthood, a "practice time" with limited liability for mistakes that are likely to be made due to lack of experience. All the same, one way or another, it is imperative that young people get to practice with responsibility. It is absurd to believe that a person should be treated like a baby until age 18, and then be presumed capable of exercising all the responsibilities of adulthood the next day. I happen to believe that this is true of responsibly exercising one's sexuality as well.