Capacity To Consent Requires Knowledge And Understanding

Submitted by tomrue on

"Information is not knowledge."
- A. Einstein

Editor
The Times Herald Record
Middletown, New York

Editor:

At first glance, the prominent and extensive coverage given to the subject of teenage sexuality (TH-R, 8/26) seemed like sensational exploitation by the Record. However, after reading it, my thought changed. To this outside observer (some participants in the story may feel differently), the article seemed balanced and sensitive.

And it addresses serious human development questions with hard implications for policy that does are not spoken of often enough in public.

Capacity to consent to sexual relations requires, at a minimum, three integral elements: sexual knowledge, understanding the consequences of sexual behavior, and abilities related to self-protection.

Engraving an arbitrary chronological age of consent in the law is kind of like posting signs in amusement parks that, "You must be this tall to get on this ride."

The problem with this is not only that human minds and emotions develop at different rates; but also that the degree and quality of sex education changes with each election and varies from district to district.

You speak to the need for open communication between youth and adults in their lives. But there is also (and this was not mentioned) a desperate need for more comprehensive, age-appropriate, and realistic sexuality curricula in schools.

Tom Rue
Monticello
www.tomrue.net

Letter: Teen Sexuality August 30, 2007

Subject Bibliography: Capacity To Consent And Sexuality