When does a girl become a woman (or a boy become a man?)

[NeverAmI]

When he / she made their first kill.
Do we ever get to know ourselves full if we haven't seen the look in the eyes of a dying man or woman?
I think not.

Have you?

 

[The Jester]

Have you?

Damnit John, I edited it out because it just wasn't 'smooth enough'.
And no, I haven't.

 

[Entyqua]

thats a toughy...

I think its life experirnces that determine that...There are still 50 year old men who cater to their inner child, therefore have never really reached true manhood...The same with women...

I think that by age definition between 21-23 you start to really develop a sense of responsibility in life. There fore an adult...but your still young enough to miss the freedom of your youth...After thirty i think is when adulthood really kicks in...

But its all a matter of personal experiences too...I considered myself an adult at 17 based on my life experiences.

mental Maturity, and physical maturity are two different things tho...

 

[Durandal]

To me, when one is not only able to take care of oneself and his/her loved ones, but also experienced in it as well - which also assumes that the person is individual or self-aware enough to understand these responsibilities; that is what makes you a man or a woman. But maturity seems like an illusion considering all people have their different opinions on where it starts and where it ends. It's entirely a societal concept. I plan on living my life always saying to myself I'm not quite mature yet so I'm always trying harder to make myself better!

 

[On my own path]

I would say it is maturity...when someone begins making good decisions beyond their years.
In earlier years, America had an 8 yr old ambassador. I also read stories about frontier boys and girls that had to raise and care for families after their parent/s died.

I agree. The age when this occurs is subjective to an individual.

On a related note I also believe that
Going through puberty =\= Letting your hormones take control of you.

 

[88chaz88]

As soon as she makes me that damn sandwich!

 

[SamE]

<--- old soul thoughts yet still lacks this thing called adulthood.
What should I do.

 

[the]

So, if a 12-year old is self sufficient and self sustaining should he be considered a man and be allowed to live on his own. etc.?

I vote yes. I take it you disagree?

 

[enfp can be shy]

Those are just words. I don't know whoever dares to claim they are self-sufficient or independent. They should be thrown in the vacuum of space millions light years away from here, or in a black hole, and rethink how self-sufficient they are.

 

[Bored Now]

i actually have no idea. I know when I was younger I kept looking for the elusive thing that made me a woman. Various rites of passage did nothing for me. Starting my period, losing my virginity etc. If it's a matter of taking care of yourself, well i had to do that from the moment I could walk and talk out of necessity.

i honestly feel younger than i did when I was a child. Perhaps its because I didn't get much in the way of a childhood. i don't know, maybe there is no one thing that makes one a woman or a man, but a personal threshold you cross without realizing its significance until after you're on the other side of it. Like your own personal Rubicon.

If i crossed it. i didn't feel a thing. i think i'll be one of those people who toes the line until the day I die.