Are large age-gap relationships wrong?

Elliot (No)

Large age gaps are not inherently unethical. First, it's important to point out that we already have laws against statutory rape. If kept in place and adhered to, these laws can ensure that young people are not exploited. The whole point of statutory rape laws is to prevent the immorality of age gaps, which means our society has already solved this problem, legally speaking. As long as individuals are the legal age for consent (usually 18 in the US), they are legally considered adults and should be free to live their lives in any way they choose. No one should be able to tell them how to live their lives or who they can or cannot date. We must draw the line somewhere, and our democratic society has agreed that ~18 is the age of consent. 

One might argue that many people are essentially still children at the age of 18. The obvious counterargument is that many people at age 30 are 'still children'—living in their parent's basements, playing video games all day, unemployed, and generally avoiding any sense of responsibility. Age is not a reliable indicator of morality or maturity. A 19-year-old can be incredibly career-focused, responsible, and well-educated—in many cases more so than people almost twice their age.

We must also consider that age gaps were seen as relatively normal throughout human history. Medieval Lords and barons were betrothed to girls below the age of consent today. This would be illegal and immoral today, but in those days, this was just how things were done. The concept of an age gap being strange or wrong is actually a very new phenomenon.  

Luis (Yes)

Everyone is free to have whatever type of relationship they want as long as they aren't breaking laws or hurting anybody and if both parties consent. However, large age-gap relationships can be quite problematic for different reasons. The first one is that future compatibility is essentially non-existent, considering that the age gap will inevitably create challenges that the couple will find uncomfortable to handle, including end-of-life decisions and retirement. Both are awkward and challenging since one of the two persons in the relationship will have to deal with a difficult situation they are too young to handle properly.

There are also natural, legal, and even ethical concerns, considering that the younger person in the relationship can sometimes not be fully aware of the consequences their choice to marry older entails. Additionally, there could be a well-earned social stigma in large age-gap relationships because this is considered immoral in many nations worldwide. Moreover, these types of relationships can create numerous conflicts and misunderstandings since both persons are in different stages of life, meaning they won't see the future in the same way. Finally, these relationships can be unethical due to the power imbalance, which is quite normal considering that one of the two partners has way more life experience, social influence, and financial stability than the other.

While love can unite people regardless of age, sex, race, or religion, large age-gap relationships are troubling enough to prevent having one. After all, the disadvantages are more significant than the benefits.