The age of 16 brings a variety of responsibilities and freedoms, it’s a time in which an age group still legally required to be in education can take someone’s hand in marriage with the consent of their parents, and move out without it, though they’re simultaneously denied the ability to vote. Law heavily restricts their actions, but society views them as adults and many question: have 16-year-olds already reached adulthood?
From the start of their teenage years, young people are encouraged to fend for themselves and be self-governing, but the law seems to restrict this. You can join the armed forces and get married, yet your parents still control this decision. Why allow young people to have some freedom if they still need the consent of someone above them? It’s a time in which, albeit with difficulty, you could start a life for yourself: legally leave home, receive national minimum wage for 16/17-year-olds and even have a child, though you’re still denied the ability to vote – so are 16-year-olds mature or not?
Many young people feel as though their ability to gain some independence on their 16th birthday should entitle them to vote, but this isn’t the case across the UK. Statistics after the Brexit Referendum in 2016 showed us 70-75% of under 25s voted remain, possibly due to the fact that many young people knew the decision to leave the EU would affect their future dramatically. The decision to leave shocked many and was received badly by the younger generation – especially those not allowed to have their say. A 16-year-old from Hillingdon said, “I see myself as mature enough and with enough knowledge of politics to vote, why can’t I have a say in my future?”.
The difference between leave and remain was a mere 3.8% and opinions like the aforementioned leave us wondering, if you could vote at 16 would we still be leaving? Though in contrast, some may argue at 16, young people are too immature to have a say in UK politics. Moreover, older generations seem to have the opinion that younger people are too heavily influenced by media and authoritative figures to have a say, and that many may change their opinions as they grow older. Would 16-year-olds vote based on their own opinions, or be shadowing those they look up to?
There seems to be more examples of the ambiguity the law demonstrates as young people reach 16, such as money. As young as 14, teenagers are charged adult fares and forced to pay as if they’re already 18. This is an instance in which the law seems to be very contradictory and rules are not consistent: how can some companies charge a young person an adult price whilst denying them the ability to act like one? A young person attempting to live without financial assistance from their parents would find these charges extremely harsh since at 16 you cannot usually claim jobseeker’s allowance and income support. The inability to receive this money and a £3.18 difference between national minimum wage for under-18s and 21-24-year olds reveal how hard it must be for 16-year-olds to survive independently.
Overall, law and society conclude that although you do have some independence at 16, it’s an age in which you’re surrounded with vulnerability. You’re given a taste of the reality of the world but denied the chance to explore it in depth. Hence, to the dismay of many young people, adulthood only really seems to be reached at the big 18.
