I think the morality vs. legality debate that's happening within this thread is worth talking about. I generally avoid comfort women threads because I don't know enough about the topic to discuss is intelligently, but religioin, morality and law is always fun to haggle over!
Nall-ohki said:
I'll agree with you on the legal part, but I'm not sure I follow you on the morally/social part here. "Minor" is a purely legal definition, having nothing to do with biology, and is arbitrarily decided upon by a government body, which does not always correspond with the entire culture (or even most of it in many instances).
If the legal age is 18, and a girl is one day away from turning 18, is it morally wrong then, and then okay a day later?
I think this is a perfect example of how arbitrary the law can be in its determinations. Why is it illegal to drink in the US until you're 21, but legal in the province of Quebec after the age of 18? The law is put in place for good reasons and I support the law, but one must take the law with a grain of salt and realize it is in some cases going to be contrary to one's urges, in this case to get drink alcohol and in so doing pursue social interaction with peers and emulate role models.
Nall-ohki said:
Has the girl matured significantly in that day?
Ewok85 said:
Irrelevant. But I will admit the "scale" is different for what you mentioned.
I'm not convinced this is entirely irrelevant. Obviously as I stated and as most of us would believe, the law is good and has a purpose. But why was the law created? To protect the vulnerable. So what if a girl or woman is still sexually vulnerable after 18 due to a sheltered or heavily religious/conservative upbringing for example. Should men who are 40 or 50 still be somehow prevented from having a sexual relationship with her? Morally I'd say yes, she's still lacking the tools of sexual enpowerment that allow a woman to control (to the best of her abilities) what goes on in bed and what happens to her. Conversely, we all know there are girls out there who know way too much at an early age. I don't disagree that these considerations aren't enough to change the law but I don't think they're irrelevant.
The only way to balance this playing field and cure the real moral issues that fall outside of the law and for which the law is useless in protecting is through more sex education in my opinion.
Joan said:
In Japan, not only girls in high school but even in junior high make arrangements with older men who pay them for having sex. Even publishing pornograpic photebooks of 9 years old girls is legal. U-15 (under 15 year-old) girls' pornographies appear to be gaining in popularity in Japan.
I agree with that healthy young girls are attractive for "breeding purposes", however, the logic can be applied only if they are at least age of having ability to grow children. Girls in elementary schools or in junior high are not able to grow children themselves. Even girls in elementary school are not able to have sex. "Breeding purposes" doesn't explain enough the Japanese U-15 boom.
Child pornography or prostitution is technically illegal in Japan, but it is socially and practically accepted
Good points, why does the natural urge to breed extend beyond the breeding age in some cases, effectually nullifying the argument that it's natural? I think you answered your own question in your third paragraph there.. the concept itself is sensatioanalized and idealized to the Nth degree by the porn industry until it reaches critical levels, in this case moving from highschool into junior high and then elementary school levels. I would argue that while there are always going to be individuals pre-disposed to this kind of thing, a majority of men aren't. The urge or idea of having sex with a minor is sold to them and varying levels of social acceptability can either hinder or further its development. Perhaps ancilliary laws about pornography content are the real moral issue and are what need to be strengthened, not the blanket law of 'protecting' minors which is toothless if it doesn't pinpoint the source.