History Main / JailbaitTaboo

This trope is when an adult character struggles with romantic and/or sexual feelings for a teenager below the legal age of consent. Social norms portray relationships between adults and teens as inherently [[DomesticAbuse abusive]] and [[NoYay wrong]], yet many adult characters [[{{Ephebophile}} find teens attractive]] (or just one in particular), making them ForbiddenFruit. Thus, the opportunity of sex or a relationship with an underage partner presents a moral conundrum and [[SecretTestOfCharacter character-defining moment]].

In RealLife, [[UsefulNotes/{{Consent}} Age of Consent laws]] define when sex or relationships between adults and older teenagers are legal, and the adult can be prosecuted for it when they aren't. HollywoodLaw often comes into play with this trope, because most of the world makes some allowance for such relationships even if they're socially frowned upon. Admittedly, there's a world of difference between a 19-year-old dating a 17-year-old, and an old pervert hitting on someone young enough to be their child, hence why "Romeo & Juliet" laws exist when the partners are just a few years apart but on opposite sides of the age of consent. Because California is one of the few places where the younger partner MUST be 18 with no close-in-age exceptions, many [[HollywoodProvincialism Hollywood works incorrectly assume this is the case]] everywhere.[[note]]Only a handful of regions around the world have age of consent at 18. Age of consent is 16 across basically ''all of Eurasia'', with the exceptions of Turkey, Cyprus, and Ireland (17) (it's technically 18 in the micro-state of Vatican City). In South America it's at most 16 (and lower in certain countries). In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, it's also 16. Across Central America and the Caribbean it varies considerably: 18 in Panama but only 15 in neighboring Costa Rica, 18 in Haiti/Dominican Republic but 16 in Cuba. In Africa it ranges considerably from 18 on down. In the United States as well as Mexico it varies by internal state law, but notably it's lower than 18 in most other major states besides California: 17 in New York, Illinois, Texas, and Louisiana; 16 in all the rest of the northeast (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan), also Georgia, Washington state, and District of Colombia. It's also 16 to 17 in most of the Great Plains states. The only ones besides California where it is 18 are an eclectic mix of states like Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Utah.

* In the Creator/{{Lifetime}} movie ''Stalked At 17'' contains an extreme example of these relationships being abusive. Chad, a twenty-two-year-old college student, becomes obsessed with his sixteen/seventeen-year-old girlfriend, Angela, when she reveals that she's pregnant. When Angela's parents find out about her pregnancy and the father of their grandchild, they try to create some distance. This doesn't set well for Chad as he starts to stalk them and tries getting in contact with them. His {{Yandere}} levels go through the roof when he tries attacking Angela's father for getting a restraining order against him. He even turns to his mother, who was recently released from prison, for help on kidnapping Angela and their newborn son so that they can be a family together.

* ''Film/AgeOfConsent'': The film is about a romance between the 60-something Bradley and his teenage model Cora. At one point, Ma Ryan screeches that Cora is underage and that she will sic the police on Bradley.

Legal aspects aside, the taboo can have a number of impacts on the story and characterization. A character may be attracted to a teenager, but avoid pursuing the relationship due to the taboo (often a way to show that they're a decent person or ChivalrousPervert). They might pursue the relationship despite the taboo, and receive [[PlayedForDrama legal or social consequences]] for it. Other times, they may simply [[TheJailbaitWait wait until their crush is of legal age]]. Some scenarios make the older partner sympathetic or even a victim by having teen initiate the relationship, often by [[ReallySeventeenYearsOld lying about their age]]. Other scenarios where the older partner willingly pursues teenage partners tend to portray older one as an immature, shallow pervert exploiting their young lover's naivete.

* "Jailbait" by Music/TedNugent is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin:"A song about being in love with a thirteen-year old.

In RealLife, [[UsefulNotes/{{Consent}} Age of Consent laws]] define when sex or relationships between adults and older teenagers are legal, and the adult can be prosecuted for it when they aren't. HollywoodLaw often comes into play with this trope, because most of the world makes some allowance for such relationships even if they're socially frowned upon. Admittedly, there's a world of difference between a 19-year-old dating a 17-year-old, and an old pervert hitting on someone young enough to be their child, hence why "Romeo & Juliet" laws exist when the partners are just a few years apart but on opposite sides of the age of consent. Because California is one of the few places where the younger partner MUST be 18 with no close-in-age exceptions, many [[HollywoodProvincialism Hollywood works incorrectly assume this is the case]] everywhere.[[note]]Only a handful of regions around the world have age of consent at 18. Age of consent is 16 across basically ''all of Eurasia'', with the exceptions of Turkey, Cyprus, and Ireland (17) (it's technically 18 in the micro-state of Vatican City). In South America it's at most 16 (and lower in certain countries). In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, it's also 16. Across Central America and the Caribbean it varies considerably: 18 in Panama but only 15 in neighboring Costa Rica, 18 in Haiti/Dominican Republic but 16 in Cuba. In Africa it ranges considerably from 18 on down. In the United States as well as Mexico it varies by internal state law, but notably it's lower than 18 in most other major states besides California: 17 in New York, Illinois, Texas, and Louisiana; 16 in all the rest of the northeast (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan), also Georgia, Washington State, and District of Colombia. It's also 16 to 17 in most of the Great Plains states. The only ones besides California where it is 18 are an eclectic mix of states like Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Utah.

In RealLife, [[UsefulNotes/{{Consent}} Age of Consent laws]] define when sex or relationships between adults and older teenagers are legal, and the adult can be prosecuted for it when they aren't. HollywoodLaw often comes into play with this trope, because most of the world makes some allowance for such relationships even if they're socially frowned upon. Admittedly, there's a world of difference between a 19-year-old dating a 17-year-old, and an old pervert hitting on someone young enough to be their child, hence why "Romeo & Juliet" laws exist when the partners are just a few years apart but on opposite sides of the age of consent. Because California is one of the few places where the younger partner MUST be 18 with no close-in-age exceptions, many [[HollywoodProvincialism Hollywood works incorrectly assume this is the case]] everywhere.[[note]]Only a handful of regions around the world have age of consent at 18. Age of consent is 16 across basically ''all of Eurasia'', with the exceptions of Turkey, Cyprus, and Ireland (17) (it's technically 18 in the micro-state of Vatican City). In South America it's at most 16 (and lower in certain countries). In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, it's also 16. Across Central America and the Caribbean it varies considerably: 18 in Panama but only 15 in neighboring Costa Rica, 18 in Haiti/Dominican Republic but 16 in Cuba. In Africa it ranges considerably from 18 on down. In the United States as well as Mexico it varies by internal state law, but notably it's lower than 18 in most other major states besides California: 17 in New York, Illinois, Texas, and Louisiana; 16 in all the rest of the northeast (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, also Georgia, Washington State, and District of Colombia. It's also 16 to 17 in most of the Great Plains states. The only ones besides California where it is 18 are an eclectic mix of states like Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Utah.

In RealLife, [[UsefulNotes/{{Consent}} Age of Consent laws]] define when sex or relationships between adults and older teenagers are legal, and the adult can be prosecuted for it when they aren't. HollywoodLaw often comes into play with this trope, because most of the world makes some allowance for such relationships even if they're socially frowned upon. Admittedly, there's a world of difference between a 19-year-old dating a 17-year-old, and an old pervert hitting on someone young enough to be their child, hence why "Romeo & Juliet" laws exist when the partners are just a few years apart but on opposite sides of the age of consent. Because California is one of the few places where the younger partner MUST be 18 with no close-in-age exceptions, many [[HollywoodProvincialism Hollywood works incorrectly assume this is the case]] everywhere.[[note]]Hardly any regions around the world have age of consent at 18. Age of consent is 16 across basically ''all of Eurasia'', with the exceptions of Turkey, Cyprus, and Ireland (17) (it's technically 18 in the micro-state of Vatican City). In South America it's at most 16 (and lower in certain countries). In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, it's also 16. Across Central America and the Caribbean it varies considerably: 18 in Panama but only 15 in neighboring Costa Rica, 18 in Haiti/Dominican Republic but 16 in Cuba. In Africa it ranges considerably from 18 on down. In the United States as well as Mexico it varies by internal state law, but notably it's lower than 18 in most other major states besides California: 17 in New York, Illinois, Texas, and Louisiana; 16 in all the rest of the northeast (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, also Georgia, Washington State, and District of Colombia. It's also 16 to 17 in most of the Great Plains states. The only ones besides California where it is 18 are an eclectic mix of states like Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Utah.

In RealLife, [[UsefulNotes/{{Consent}} Age of Consent laws]] define when sex or relationships between adults and older teenagers are legal, and the adult can be prosecuted for it when they aren't. HollywoodLaw often comes into play with this trope, because most of the world makes some allowance for such relationships even if they're socially frowned upon. Admittedly, there's a world of difference between a 19-year-old dating a 17-year-old, and an old pervert hitting on someone young enough to be their child, hence why "Romeo & Juliet" laws exist when the partners are just a few years apart but on opposite sides of the age of consent. Because California is one of the few places where the younger partner MUST be 18 with no close-in-age exceptions, many [[HollywoodProvincialism Hollywood works incorrectly assume this is the case]] everywhere.[[note]]Hardly any regions around the world have age of consent at 18. Age of consent is 16 across basically ''all of Eurasia'', with the exceptions of Turkey, Cyprus, and Ireland (17) (it's technically 18 in the micro-state of Vatican City). In South America it's at most 16 (and lower in certain countries). In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, it's also 16. Across Central America and the Caribbean it varies considerably: 18 in Panama but only 15 in neighboring Costa Rica, 18 in Haiti/Dominican Republic but 16 in Cuba. In the United States as well as Mexico it varies by internal state law.

In RealLife, [[UsefulNotes/{{Consent}} Age of Consent laws]] define when sex or relationships between adults and older teenagers are legal, and the adult can be prosecuted for it when they aren't. HollywoodLaw often comes into play with this trope, because most of the world makes some allowance for such relationships even if they're socially frowned upon. Admittedly, there's a world of difference between a 19-year-old dating a 17-year-old, and an old pervert hitting on someone young enough to be their child, hence why "Romeo & Juliet" laws exist when the partners are just a few years apart but on opposite sides of the age of consent. Because California is one of the few places where the younger partner MUST be 18 with no close-in-age exceptions, many [[HollywoodProvincialism Hollywood works incorrectly assume this is the case]] everywhere.

* "29" by Music/DemiLovato explores this from the perspective of someone who was in a relationship with a 29-year-old while she was 17 and discusses the trauma resulting from being groomed this way.