When Girls Became Adults: A History of Growing Up Too Fast

Disclaimer: This information is about history and human development – not astrology. We're looking at how major life decisions have happened at different ages throughout history, which shows that important life changes aren't controlled by planets or Saturn.

CRITICAL WARNING: This historical information is NOT an endorsement of these practices. These laws and customs were WRONG and harmful. This is the same period when people owned other people as slaves. These were deeply flawed societies with terrible practices. The age of consent absolutely needed to be changed, and thank goodness it was. We are studying history to understand cultural context and how society has evolved – NOT to suggest these practices were acceptable.

Understanding Historical Context (NOT Approval)

We're looking at the past to understand how different societies defined adulthood – not because these definitions were right, but because they show us how much progress we've made in protecting children.

The Dark Reality of Early America

This was the same era when slavery was legal
Women had almost no rights
Child labor was common
People died young from diseases we can easily treat today
Society was built on inequality and exploitation

Legal Age of Consent in Colonial Times: 10-12 years old

These laws were based on outdated, harmful ideas
They treated girls as property, not people
Focused on family economics, not child wellbeing
Caused immense suffering and trauma

The 1800s: A Society That Failed Its Children

The Shocking Truth:

In 1890, 38 states allowed girls age 12 or younger to "consent" to sex
Delaware’s age was 7 years old – horrifying by any standard

What This Really Meant:

Girls forced into adult roles too early
Many died in childbirth as teens
Denied education and protection
Childhood was stolen

The Heroes Who Changed Everything (1890s–1920s)

Frances Willard and others fought for children’s rights
Faced strong opposition from powerful men
Raised the age of consent to 16–18 in most states by 1920

Why We Study This Dark History

To appreciate progress in child protection
To understand "traditional" ≠ right
To show how brave people challenge injustice
To recognize how systems can go very wrong

The Real Point: Society Shapes "Adulthood," Not Stars

History defined adulthood by power, not psychology
Economic needs, not Saturn, shaped adult roles
Modern protections are recent and hard-won

Today’s Better World:

We understand brain development continues into our twenties
Children need time to grow, learn, and develop identity
Laws now protect young people from exploitation

Final Truth: We Are NOT Endorsing the Past
We study this history to understand failure and protect the progress we've made. Just because something happened in history doesn’t make it right.