Adultism
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Revision as of 23:04, 29 November 2010
Related e |
Featured: |
In law, the term minor (also infant or infancy) is used to refer to a person who is under the age in which one legally assumes adulthood and is legally granted rights afforded to adults in society. Depending on the jurisdiction and application, this age may vary, but is usually marked at either 18 or 21. Specifically, the status of "minor" is defined by the age of majority.
In many countries, including Croatia, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, a minor is presently defined as a person under the age of 18. In the United States, where the age of majority is set by the individual states, 'minor' usually refers to someone under the age of 18, but can be used in certain areas to define someone under the age of 21.
In the criminal justice system in some places, the term "minor" is not entirely synonymous, as a minor may be tried for a crime (and punished) as a juvenile or an adult (usually only for extremely serious crimes such as murder).
See also
- Adultism
- Age of consent
- Age of criminal responsibility
- Age of majority
- Boy
- Defense of infancy
- Ephebiphobia
- Girl
- Marriageable age
- Voting age
- Youth rights