Is 18 too young for young women to perform in adult videos?

[wmonbear]

As much as I've enjoyed watching delectable 18 year-old babes perform every sexual act under the sun, I wonder if 18 is too young for young women to launch careers in adult hardcore.
Typically vulnerable and naive, at such a tender age, many do not have the depth and breath of life experience, i.e., maturity to rationally weigh the pros and cons of such a monumental decision.
As we have witness, a number of ex-pornstars have gone on to later express publicly their regret for the choice they made, even going as far as categorically denouncing the industry.

So what do you think? Should the minimum legal age to work in adult hardcore be raised to 21, or some other age?

 

[CrimsonBolt]

Not too young, most people in Europe have sex at 14, 15 so if you love sex, you can try to get into porn at 18 and see yourself if you like the industry or not.
No one force you to come and no one will force you to stay.
The only thing that you have to take in consideration is people and what you would do like work after, if you shoot a porn you can't be a teacher for exemple.

 

[sean miguel]

If they're old enough to take a life or lose theirs for their country ...

 

[Scancunt42]

they're already too old...giggity

 

[Supafly]

It is rather the thing that in the USA, you can play a role in a multiple gang bang movie, but can't go to a nightclub or have a beer.

 

[ban-one]

It's not so much the age but the lack of maturity from parents babying their kids far longer than they used to.

 

[GodsEmbryo]

If they're old enough to take a life or lose theirs for their country ...

What he said.

 

[wmonbear]

If they're old enough to take a life or lose theirs for their country ...

Apples and oranges. Sorry, don't see the analogy.

 

[darkwarrior3007]

Apples and oranges. Sorry, don't see the analogy.

At 18, you are old enough to go into the military. If someone is adult enough to take a life or lose their life in the military or even adult enough to vote, then they should be adult enough to perform in an adult video. Of course, you also get into the whole thing about having to be 21 in order to legally buy alcohol in the US.

 

[Rey C.]

Apples and oranges. Sorry, don't see the analogy.

I think the analogy is a good one. Whether male or female, if one is old enough to make the decision to join the military and possibly die (or kill someone), then I see no reason why one is not old enough to make the decision to pose nude or have sex on camera. You want to talk about being pressured and having your head filled with fantasies, talk to a military recruiter. The ones I talked to in high school would have put the sleaziest porn producer to shame - not that being in the military isn't an honorable life choice. But they'll tell a kid whatever [NOBABE]the kid[/NOBABE] needs to hear just to fill their quota. And the more naive and crazy brave, the more likely that [NOBABE]the kid[/NOBABE] will fall for it.

There's no way to really measure the maturity (or intelligence) of individuals for legal purposes - apart from court involvement. So a generic age of majority was established. There are probably more than a few girls and guys who are more mature (and intelligent) at the age of 16 than some at 26. But there's no way to account for that. So, we got what we got...

 

[wmonbear]

I think the analogy is a good one. Whether male or female, if one is old enough to make the decision to join the military and possibly die (or kill someone), then I see no reason why one is not old enough to make the decision to pose nude or have sex on camera. You want to talk about being pressured and having your head filled with fantasies, talk to a military recruiter. The ones I talked to in high school would have put the sleaziest porn producer to shame - not that being in the military isn't an honorable life choice. But they'll tell a kid whatever [NOBABE]the kid[/NOBABE] needs to hear just to fill their quota. And the more naive and crazy brave, the more likely that [NOBABE]the kid[/NOBABE] will fall for it.

Understood.
However, from the perspective of mainstream opinion, going into the military is an honorable act, whereas the opposite sentiment is true for a woman choosing to go into hardcore porn. One path is noble and of high stature, while the other often lends itself ultimately to varying degrees of shame or regret. The resulting legacies of the two career paths are therefore incongruent... "apples and oranges".

 

[Rey C.]

So you're suggesting special legal protections or age restrictions for women (specifically) who are entering or already in the adult entertainment industry? Is this going to be another "protected class"?

As for society's honorable view of veterans, judging by the homeless, unemployment and suicide/PTSD rates of many returning combat zone veterans, those atta boy's and people robotically saying, "thank you for your service", don't seem to be worth much in reality - to say nothing of those who get maimed or killed.

Look, I'm not discounting whatever negative consequences some girls may experience from being in porn. But just because it doesn't work out for some, I see no reason for any sort of special rules or laws that give them a "safe space" until they're 21+, or can pass a test showing that they are emotionally mature and intellectually aware of all of the potential pitfalls. And although images are permanent these days, if a girl doesn't want to be in porn, she can stop using her stage name and quit after the first day. The military doesn't work that way. Course, you can force your way out... but that dishonorable discharge will follow you through life, with much greater and more negative consequences than Uncle Bart finding out that you did a DP scene with two midgets when you were 18.

 

[sean miguel]

Uncle Bart finding out that you did a DP scene with two midgets when you were 18

She was 19, but I was still appalled, especially after the third time watching it.

Wmonbear, I honestly didn't read the entirety of your OP. I saw 18 and porn then my eyes glazed over at the rest.

They're 18, they're legal, you're on a PORN site. Who gives a shit?

And I second making the legal age 16. Europe at least gets some things right.

 

[Mario Cantone]

It is rather the thing that in the USA, you can play a role in a multiple gang bang movie, but can't go to a nightclub or have a beer.

yup. pretty much

 

[pool_hustler]

Yes.
Absolutely.

 

[pool_hustler]

If they're old enough to take a life or lose theirs for their country ...

That age should be raised to 21 as well.

 

[wmonbear]

Yes.
Absolutely.

Finally, a virtuous voice of reason.

 

[Rey C.]

So are we saying that the age of majority should be changed to 21?

 

[pool_hustler]

Finally, a virtuous voice of reason.

Heh I really resonated with your opening post. Have known several women in this business (and been involved with a couple) and 18 is just too damn young, for all the reasons you noted.

So are we saying that the age of majority should be changed to 21?

21 would be my preference for military service and porn, yes.
Voting and purchasing booze - still leaning towards 21 but I might be talked down to 18 on those two.

 

[Johan]

Usually, ,at 18, you're done with school, you're done with childhood, you're starting your adult life. So it's only fitting that at 18 you can enter the adult industry.