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There are differing laws all over the world about the age of consent. They have nothing to do with the age to drink, vote or drive a car either. It's all about consensual sex. In some places, the age of consent differs based on gender, sexuality and even sexual acts.
Historically, the age of consent was a matter for families to decide and usually began when girls menstruated or boys hit puberty. Age of consent laws hit the books around the 16th century in Europe, and in the United States as late as the early 1900s. Without them, Chris Hansen from "To Catch a Predator" would be out of a job.
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United States of America
Based on the idea of federalism, there is no consistent age of consent in the country. Individual states decide their own ages of consent. In Oregon, for example, the age is 18; Nebraska, 17; and New Jersey, 16. For more detailed information, click here.
In New Hampshire, the age of consent is 16 for heterosexual acts, but 18 for homosexual conduct. Why, New Hampshire, why? In the majority of other states, there is a sex allowance for minors under the age of consent, but close to the same age. Not so in New Hampshire. A 16-year-old cannot have sex with a 15-year-old. Proms must suck.
Due to the PROTECT Act of 2003, citizens of the U.S. are bound by the nation's age of consent laws, even if they are on foreign soil where the age of consent may be lower. The goal is to help prevent "sex tourism" and child prostitution.
Factoid: The age of consent in Delaware is now 18, but until 1895, it was 7. Delaware is known as our First State, but it seems it was our First State of Statutory Rape.
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Oman
In Oman, there is no age of consent. You simply have to be married. And while it is "advisable" that teenagers wait until they turn 18 to get married, there is no legal minimum age for marriage eligibility, meaning anyone can get married at any age.
Neighboring Qatar and Saudi Arabia have the same law.
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Colombia
Along with its drug problems, the birthplace of Sofia Vergara from "Modern Family" has an age of consent of 12 for girls and 14 for boys. That's kind of gross.
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Panama
In Panama, the woman/girl also needs to be just a minimum of 12, while the man/boy can be 14. (Still gross.)
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Swaziland
Swaziland seems the reverse of Panama. In Swaziland, women/girls need to be 16, while men/boys can be 14. (Less gross, but still a little gross.)
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Syria
Age of consent in Syria is lucky number 13. As a teenager, I would've loved this. As a grown man, I'm thinking: (you guessed it) gross.
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Cameroon
The West African country of Cameroon. Along with all its other troubles, the age of consent for women and men is 21. Which means newlyweds can experience their first hangovers on their wedding night.
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Mexico
Like the United States, the country of Mexico has no consistent age of consent. States decide their own ages. The upper age range is 18, but in some parts, like Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Jalisco, the age is 12.
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Bermuda
Many countries, including Bermuda, the Bahamas, Paraguay, Chile, Suriname and Greece, have a higher age of consent for homosexual (male-male) intercourse, usually 18, versus 16 for heterosexual acts.
And in other countries, including Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, Burma, Grenada and many others, male-male sex is banned outright. For more information, click here.
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Antarctica
There are no age of consent laws on the floating pole down south. The laws depend on the individual's country of origin. So if you ever go to the ice and snow, you'd better know.