Original post by sleepysnooze...okay but why though? what happens, specifically, at 16, biologically, for girls that causes them to suddenly have the "mental capacity" to consent to sex? I mean, the biological processes that are about sex and sexual development begin as early as 13 generally (usually earlier but I'm being conservative here so at not to say that all 12 year old girls can consent). so why 16? most girls, for instance, get their final breast size, and height, earlier than 16, and the *vast* (can't stress that word enough) majority of girls around 13 have started their periods, so why 16 of all ages?