Will you marry me?
A friend of mine was just mentioning to me the other day - Why dont you just pop the damn question to her and get it over with. As much as I would love to do that it is not what I am discussing today. Rather I want to look at the Law commission's proposal to set 18 as the minimum legal age for males and females to get married and 16 as the minimum age for consensual sex.
Let me consider the lowering of age for boys to get married. When I consider the urban or rural middle class I would say that 18 is still not the right age. My brother is 18 and I am sure he is too young tie the knot. The age of 21 that was previously set as the minimum would still make sense. That would ensure that the guy has had ample time to comple the necessary education and has had an opportunity to understand the meaning of the words commitment and responsibility.
But then the age set for guys is not that debatable as that of the age for girls. Now the age for girls has not changed. It remains 18. Many argue that this was an opportunity to increase this age, to say 21. It would now make more sense to look at this categorically. With the lower classes in both urban and rural areas this could ensure that girls would now be forced to study after the 12th std and mariage is not an option till they graduate. For the middle class it may not make a difference. Even though many would argue that a girl is more mature both physically and psychologically at 18 than a guy, forcing the age to 21 may actually turn out to be a boon for the girl. It might give more time for her to develop herself as an individual.
The above may sound good, but considering the masses it is actually very tough to raise age to 21 for girls. The plethora of variables that impact society makes it almost impossible to raise the minimum age to 21 for both boys and girls. Also this age needs to be in sync with the other laws like the child marriage act. And the law does not state you need to marry at 18. It is only setting a minimum. And I believe that the minimum age has been set after a lot of research at the ground level. But in effect the law has not changed anything much by lowering the minimum age for guys.
Maybe by setting the minimum age for consesual sex at 16 it is trying to bring about some change. But I guess this clause is more of an aid to rape cases than anything else. After all marriage can be monitored but sex between couples cant be.
So whats the right time to pop the question. Personally I feel 24-26 is the right age for girls. It can be 25-28 for guys. But who listens to me.............
Let me consider the lowering of age for boys to get married. When I consider the urban or rural middle class I would say that 18 is still not the right age. My brother is 18 and I am sure he is too young tie the knot. The age of 21 that was previously set as the minimum would still make sense. That would ensure that the guy has had ample time to comple the necessary education and has had an opportunity to understand the meaning of the words commitment and responsibility.
But then the age set for guys is not that debatable as that of the age for girls. Now the age for girls has not changed. It remains 18. Many argue that this was an opportunity to increase this age, to say 21. It would now make more sense to look at this categorically. With the lower classes in both urban and rural areas this could ensure that girls would now be forced to study after the 12th std and mariage is not an option till they graduate. For the middle class it may not make a difference. Even though many would argue that a girl is more mature both physically and psychologically at 18 than a guy, forcing the age to 21 may actually turn out to be a boon for the girl. It might give more time for her to develop herself as an individual.
The above may sound good, but considering the masses it is actually very tough to raise age to 21 for girls. The plethora of variables that impact society makes it almost impossible to raise the minimum age to 21 for both boys and girls. Also this age needs to be in sync with the other laws like the child marriage act. And the law does not state you need to marry at 18. It is only setting a minimum. And I believe that the minimum age has been set after a lot of research at the ground level. But in effect the law has not changed anything much by lowering the minimum age for guys.
Maybe by setting the minimum age for consesual sex at 16 it is trying to bring about some change. But I guess this clause is more of an aid to rape cases than anything else. After all marriage can be monitored but sex between couples cant be.
So whats the right time to pop the question. Personally I feel 24-26 is the right age for girls. It can be 25-28 for guys. But who listens to me.............
posted by Sriniketh S at
7:57 PM
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