From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
-
- For the techno remix
duo, see
ADULT.
The term adult describes
any mature
organism, but normally it
refers to a
human: one that is no longer a
child /
minor and is now either a
man or a
woman.
Coming of age is the event of
becoming an adult, i.e. of
entering adulthood.
Legally it means that one can
engage in a
contract. The same or a
different minimum age may be
applicable to, for example,
parents losing
parenting rights and duties
regarding the person concerned,
parents losing financial
responsibility,
marriage,
voting, having a
job, being a
soldier, buying/possessing
firearms (if legal at all),
driving, travelling abroad,
drinking
alcoholic beverages (perhaps
different ages for different
categories),
smoking,
sex, being a
prostitute (if legal at all),
being a client of a prostitute,
being a model or actor in
pornography, etc. Admission of
a young person to a place may be
restricted because of danger for
that person, and/or because of the
risk that the young person causes
damage (for example, at an
exhibition of fragile items).
One can distinguish the
legality of acts of a young
person, and of enabling a young
person to carry out that act, by
selling, renting out, showing,
permitting entrance,
participating, etc. There may be
distinction between commercially
and socially enabling. Sometimes
there is the requirement of
supervision by a
legal guardian, or just by an
adult. Sometimes there is no
requirement, but just a
recommendation.
With regard to drinking one can
distinguish:
- being allowed inside of
drinking establishments
- being allowed to purchase
alcohol
- being allowed to consume
alcoholic beverages
- another person being allowed
to sell the young person alcohol
- another person being allowed
to give the young person alcohol
See also
legal considerations regarding
alcoholic beverages.
With regard to pornography one
can distinguish:
- being allowed inside an
adult establishment
- being allowed to purchase
pornography
- being allowed to possess
pornography
- another person being allowed
to sell, rent out, or show the
young person pornography, see
disseminating pornography to a
minor
- being a model or actor in
pornography: rules for the young
person, and for other people,
regarding production,
possession, etc. (see
child pornography)
With regard to movies with
violence, etc.:
- another person being allowed
to sell, rent out, or show the
young person the movie, a cinema
being allowed to let the young
person (under age 17 or 18)
enter
The legal definition of
entering adulthood varies between
ages 16-21, depending on the
region in question. Some cultures
in
Africa define adult at age 13,
but most other civilizations
consider this the
teenager stage.
Often the age is 18.
Exceptions:
- 19:
South Korea
- 20:
Japan
"Adult" also means "not
considered suitable for
children", in particular as a
euphemism for being related to
sexual behaviour, e.g.
adult entertainment,
adult video, adult
magazine, adult
bookstore. However,
adult education simply means
education for adults, not
particularly
sex education.
Some propose that moving into
adulthood involves an emotional
structuring of denial. This
process becomes necessary to cope
with one's own behaviour
(especially in uncomfortable
situations) and also the behaviour
of others.
See also
