Kourany R F, Hill R Y, Hollender M H
Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 1986;14(2):171-6.
In 1899 the age of sexual consent in some American jurisdictions was 9 years. It has ranged from 7 to 21 years and at present the range is from 11 to 18 years. The age selected seems to be an arbitrary matter, the product of legislative compromise. The age of sexual consent should not be so early that little protection is provided for a child. Conversely, it should not be so late that a man can be held for statutory rape when the "victim" is fully capable of informed consent and readily acquiesced to a proposal or even invited a sexual relationship.
1899年，美国一些司法管辖区的性同意年龄为9岁。该年龄范围从7岁到21岁不等，目前的范围是11岁到18岁。所选定的年龄似乎是一个随意的问题，是立法妥协的产物。性同意年龄不应过早，以至于对儿童几乎没有保护。相反，它也不应过晚，以至于当“受害者”完全有能力做出知情同意并且轻易默许了一项提议甚至主动提出性关系时，男子仍会被认定犯有法定强奸罪。
