Self Defense and the AoC

"A child cannot consent because they cannot defend themselves."

Agreed. But for the opposite reasons.

There's a reason why the AoC that all traditional cultures seem to arrive at independently ( as well as many Peds do ) is dismissed in favor of 18-21 in the West.

By 13 both girls and boys have arrived at puberty and are both coursing with the hormones at levels close to the adult sex drive ( albeit higher ) AND have fully functional reproductive organs. For any society with a single step into adulthood; this is it. Only a culture where your Bat Mitzvah and your voting rights are separated by years can see it otherwise. But why?

What's missing at 13 but present at 18 is the ability to out-punch Dad when he tries to ground you.

We are also the only species whose muscular build at the age of sexual maturity is years behind that required to dislodge the Alpha Male from controlling access to the harem.

This is why, as soon as sexual maturity ceased being the only pertinant issue, we headed down the path where ones ability in fisticuffs determines what is ethical and moral.

Unfortunately; when has this never been the case.

* Props to LGsinmyheart; "An orientation is a paraphilia with an army and a navy." *

Dante