I just had a very interesting thought while I was going through the teen refuge folder. While reading, I saw references to teenagers not being taken seriously because they were 14-16 etc years old. It brings to mind for me the question:
When did our sense of age vs. responsibility change?
I know no one on this board is old enough to remember girls being married at 16 in the United States but it happened. Or what about societies (Like the Roma of europe or Moon Mountain People of Africa for example) who still marry their children off at 15 years old? In many cultures a child becomes an adult when they can work and reach puberty. When did America begin viewing things differently? And why did we make this switch? Was it longer life expectancy? Industrialization?
It seems the teen went from being an apprentice/worker and potential mate, to someone to be coddled and babied until they're 21 years old.
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