@Krat0s0fsparta "Age is a social construct"
@Krat0s0fsparta This sort of thing drives me nuts. *Everything* has a social element to it because we are social beings. Childhood was a cultural *achievement* that needs to be defended against the barbarians in our midst.
@Krat0s0fsparta Nature says children are adults at puberty. Humans realised they were still immature so increased the length of childhood to give them more time. Yes it’s a social construct to protect girls from early pregnancy & protect all kids from paedophiles.
@Krat0s0fsparta Yes, there are many reasons why we don't class 12 year olds as adults. Good ones. Campaigners in the Victorian era fought desperately to raise the age of consent and give children legal rights so they couldn't be exploited.
@Krat0s0fsparta It was a question of class: middle & upper class kids in the 19th century were still considered children at the age of 12 — went to school, played with dolls and toy trains etc. You’ve only got to read The Treasure Seekers / Secret Garden to see this. Working class kids — worked.
@Krat0s0fsparta 12 was considered an adult when people died at 50. In the 1920s the working age was 14. It’s not been 12 for over a century.
@Krat0s0fsparta And what does "Steph" want to extrapolate that analogy to? 🚩