"Kids can't consent" is a fragment of purity culture
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2026 10:13 pm
So, purity culture: The belief that sex and sexual desire is inherently gross and immoral unless in the narrow context of a man-and-woman marriage to be used for procreation. There's more to it, obviously, but that's basically the bare-bones synopsis. Anyone raised under the influence of purity culture (especially if you were brought up religious) has likely been taught that the basic biological urge to fuck and bang is a temptation that lives in your flesh, and said temptation must be resisted until you're married.
In progressive societies, including the one you probably live in, purity culture has been deconstructed. It's been proven to cause harm to those influenced by it because it's centered around the belief that sex is dirty and shouldn't be talked about or explored. Most people, unless they're religious or whatever, would denounce such an idea in favor of sexual liberty. And don't get me wrong, I totally agree that purity culture is an outdated belief (however, if it's your personal choice to remain celibate until marriage, then who am I to bash you). But there's just one small thing that deconstructionists/sexual liberationists fail to consider:
The belief that minors cannot consent to sex - despite having both knowledge of the act itself and its potential consequences (pregnancy, STDs, etc.), as well as enthusiasm to participate in sexual acts - is a leftover fragment of a shattered and discarded belief system. To assume that sex is something too graphic for an underaged person to indulge in is to still hold the belief, even in such a miniscule way, that having sex is inherently gross. If a 16 y/o can consent to driving despite the possibility of getting into a fatal car crash, how come that same 16 y/o cannot "truly" consent to sexual acts with an adult, despite the possible consequences being arguably less dire?
Not to mention, many parents (progressive or conservative, though definitely more so that latter) shrink back in disgust at the thought of their children being sexual beings. Regardless of if their child's partner is "age appropriate", a minor having sex at all is discouraged by their parents. Not to mention, a lot of people don't find children attractive, and are repulsed at the idea of engaging in sex acts with an underaged individual (perhaps they are being honest about younger children, but let's be truthful, here... everyone has likely found a teenager attractive). This contributes to my other point about how the stigma around MAP's is heavily influenced by people's initial reaction of disgust.
Limiting who can and cannot have sex is an incredibly fascistic thing to do, end of discussion. Of course, there are sexual desires that are unethical (ie., straight-up raping someone, torture, abuse) and should be kept in check. But to deny the sexual autonomy of children, especially ones that have hit puberty and probably want to have sex, and to even insist that children cannot truly desire sex, is an inherently oppressive thing to do. Furthermore, for society to convince children into believing that their own biological desire is invalid and unusual, is far more unethical than any consensual encounter between, say, a 13 y/o and a 25 y/o.
But what do I know? I'm just some master-manipulator monster who wears human skin and drinks the blood of children.
In progressive societies, including the one you probably live in, purity culture has been deconstructed. It's been proven to cause harm to those influenced by it because it's centered around the belief that sex is dirty and shouldn't be talked about or explored. Most people, unless they're religious or whatever, would denounce such an idea in favor of sexual liberty. And don't get me wrong, I totally agree that purity culture is an outdated belief (however, if it's your personal choice to remain celibate until marriage, then who am I to bash you). But there's just one small thing that deconstructionists/sexual liberationists fail to consider:
The belief that minors cannot consent to sex - despite having both knowledge of the act itself and its potential consequences (pregnancy, STDs, etc.), as well as enthusiasm to participate in sexual acts - is a leftover fragment of a shattered and discarded belief system. To assume that sex is something too graphic for an underaged person to indulge in is to still hold the belief, even in such a miniscule way, that having sex is inherently gross. If a 16 y/o can consent to driving despite the possibility of getting into a fatal car crash, how come that same 16 y/o cannot "truly" consent to sexual acts with an adult, despite the possible consequences being arguably less dire?
Not to mention, many parents (progressive or conservative, though definitely more so that latter) shrink back in disgust at the thought of their children being sexual beings. Regardless of if their child's partner is "age appropriate", a minor having sex at all is discouraged by their parents. Not to mention, a lot of people don't find children attractive, and are repulsed at the idea of engaging in sex acts with an underaged individual (perhaps they are being honest about younger children, but let's be truthful, here... everyone has likely found a teenager attractive). This contributes to my other point about how the stigma around MAP's is heavily influenced by people's initial reaction of disgust.
Limiting who can and cannot have sex is an incredibly fascistic thing to do, end of discussion. Of course, there are sexual desires that are unethical (ie., straight-up raping someone, torture, abuse) and should be kept in check. But to deny the sexual autonomy of children, especially ones that have hit puberty and probably want to have sex, and to even insist that children cannot truly desire sex, is an inherently oppressive thing to do. Furthermore, for society to convince children into believing that their own biological desire is invalid and unusual, is far more unethical than any consensual encounter between, say, a 13 y/o and a 25 y/o.
But what do I know? I'm just some master-manipulator monster who wears human skin and drinks the blood of children.