On that last point...

You have a good point about learned behavior and the artificial forces involved in many families today. I would suggest that biological instincts, especially for mothers, are probably only applicable to kids younger than 6.

Of course, teens are NOT kids in any way -- if parents are regarding teenage offspring as children then this is a learned and highly artificial behavior. The parents are unrealistically expecting that teens will continue to be dependent upon them for the same degree of physical/emotional support that they had at a much younger age.

Back to the other topic -- making civil rights a moral issue. It has certainly worked in the past, and I see no reason why it couldn't work again. I think adults can only do so much as far as pushing such a notion and bringing it to people's attention -- ultimately, the children themselves will have to stand up and demand the rights they deserve. Which leads me into a new post...