Agency

I always state it as them holding agency and basic human rights over their own bodies and lives. What they do is not up to us, nor is it up to the state, nor is it up to their parents. It rests on them as the best party to decide their own outcome. Now this can have limits on varying degrees of life activities. Maybe a 3yo would not make the best decision on where to live and how to feed themselves. BUT the other factor is how religious fundamentalism has twisted sex into something that needs to be bad at any age. This is why there are separate restrooms and we shall not be naked in public. So if, lets say, a 5yo finds a simple stroke of his willy fun and exciting, then the only harm is what society places on it, and not the act itself. They forget that a 5yo's favorite word on everything in life is "NO", so I'm sure he could also apply this decision himself to AMSC if he deems it not wanted, just like he can scream "NO" when he is told to brush his teeth. That being said, there has been history (and with religions ironically) that place legal responsibility and deem the "age of reason" at 7. A 7yo is certainly consulted for his opinion in a court case of his parents fighting. If there was zero reason at 7, then why would he be consulted by court social workers? In the past, 7yos have held jobs and contributed to the family unit and/or farm, whereas 3yos have not. 7yos have had shown the responsibility to wake up on their own, fold their papers, and get on their bike and deliver them to a selected list of customers on time everyday. It doesn't get much more clear than this. So, the minor himself is the best one suited to decide for himself (The Radical Case, O'Carroll). Some might say, well what's to prevent him from buying a bundle of candy and getting sick? Sure, go for it. I will tell you, that after that one time, he will know not to do that again as it feels bad. There is no difference on this from a 45yo woman saying that she should've never married her husband. Life is trial and error, but the antis seem to want to rob minors of this valuable life tool to somehow "protect them". I say, from what? You are harming them by stealing away their growth opportunities. Also, history has shown the drastic ill effects of one group limiting and controlling another group (race, gender, religion, class). This is no different. State, society, and parents are enslaving minors, when they should be in support of them. MAPs get this. It's sad that the antis don't and they continue to harm minors everyday. THEY are the monsters. So instead of opinion, I would say agency to decide for themselves.