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The specific age will always be controversial because laws require specificity but social norms are varied. (Quantum levels vs continuous functions.)

In some societies it's okay to marry 6-year-old girls.

Slightly more rational societies link it to puberty in the female. Indeed, their leaders have written entire books to justify such behaviour.

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I think "until you received base education and an ability to work/sustain yourself" is a good cut off for woman.

What's disturbing about 16yo marrying 20yo is that in most cases the girl just moves from abusive household to another, now with additional risk of pregnancy (read: another 2 year of total dependence on the sole provider)

18yo is a good cut off not because everyone is suddenly smarter and know what's good and bad, but because by that age people have the ability to leave bad and go live on their own.

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