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Abstract

This paper examines the historical development, modern inconsistencies, and unintended consequences of age of consent laws in the United States and abroad. Tracing the doctrine from its origins in English common law through reform movements in countries such as the United States, India, and Canada, the paper argues that age of consent laws have often reflected shifting political, economic, and patriarchal objectives rather than coherent principles of protection or developmental maturity. The paper explores discrepancies across jurisdictions, contradictions in adolescent autonomy, gender bias in enforcement, and the overcriminalization of consensual relationships between minors. It further analyzes how modern statutory frameworks frequently punish the very youth they were designed to protect while failing to provide consistent safeguards against exploitation. Ultimately, the paper contends that meaningful reform requires a broader reexamination of how society understands youth, consent, sexuality, and protection, and advocates for legal and cultural changes that prioritize education, prevention, and genuine child welfare over arbitrary criminalization.

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