Adolescents, Sex, and the Law: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Citizenship. . - book review

Adolescence, Fall, 2001

LEVESQUE, Roger J. R. Adolescents, Sex, and the Law: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Citizenship. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2000. 398pp. $39.95 (h).

Adolescents, Sex, and the Law details the extent to which adolescents' rights could better reflect the reality of adolescent sexual life. Law professor and attorney Roger Levesque examines the nature of adolescents' rights in such controversial areas as abortion, sexual activity, pornography, prostitution, family violence, partner battering, sexual harassment, AIDS/HIV, sexual orientation, date rape, sex education, and sex offending. Throughout, Levesque asserts the need to recognize adolescents' citizenship and peculiar place in society to develop more comprehensive and effective approaches to adolescent sexuality. He argues that society, parents, and the law can expect and foster responsible behavior only to the extent that they bestow adolescents with greater control over their own rights. To that end, he charts a comprehensive model to foster adolescents' responsible self-determination.