u/StarUniverseFalls

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In my opinion, childhood, teenagehood, and adulthood should continue to exist as biological and social realities, because people do not suddenly change their developmental stage on the day they reach the legal age of majority. However, I think "adulthood" should not be treated as one single, unified legal status that automatically applies to everyone upon reaching the age of majority (for example, age 16).

Instead, different legal rights, responsibilities, and protections could be considered separately according to their purpose, rather than simply being grouped under the broad label of "adult." This could help avoid confusion and reduce the influence of adultism and ageism in how young people are perceived and treated.

For example, if the age of majority is 16, a 16-year-old can have certain legal rights associated with majority while still being a teenager in terms of their age, development, and social identity. Reaching the age of majority does not mean that a teenager suddenly becomes a non-teenager or that they should automatically be viewed in exactly the same way as a 30-year-old.

My point is not that legal adulthood should necessarily be abolished, but that we should distinguish between legal rights and responsibilities and age-based developmental or social categories. This distinction could provide a clearer framework for discussing youth rights without treating "minor" and "adult" as the only two possible categories.

Do you think teenagehood should be categorized separately from childhood?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Depends

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This post contains content not supported on old Reddit. Click here to view the full post

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This post contains content not supported on old Reddit. Click here to view the full post

This post contains content not supported on old Reddit. Click here to view the full post

In my opinion, childhood, teenagehood, and adulthood should continue to exist as biological and social realities, because people do not suddenly change their developmental stage on the day they reach the legal age of majority. However, I think "adulthood" should not be treated as one single, unified legal status that automatically applies to everyone upon reaching the age of majority (for example, age 16).

Instead, different legal rights, responsibilities, and protections could be considered separately according to their purpose, rather than simply being grouped under the broad label of "adult." This could help avoid confusion and reduce the influence of adultism and ageism in how young people are perceived and treated.

For example, if the age of majority is 16, a 16-year-old can have certain legal rights associated with majority while still being a teenager in terms of their age, development, and social identity. Reaching the age of majority does not mean that a teenager suddenly becomes a non-teenager or that they should automatically be viewed in exactly the same way as a 30-year-old.

My point is not that legal adulthood should necessarily be abolished, but that we should distinguish between legal rights and responsibilities and age-based developmental or social categories. This distinction could provide a clearer framework for discussing youth rights without treating "minor" and "adult" as the only two possible categories.