Jail Bait: Difference between revisions

 

In [[Real Life]], it is a [[No Sex Allowed|serious crime]] for a legal adult to have sex with a minor who is below the age of consent, usually 16-19 in North America and 14-16 in Europe, but in fiction is almost always 18, since that's the legal age in the [[We All Live in America|US state]] of [[SoCalization|California]], with the notable exceptions of ''[[Law and Order]]'' making it clear the age of consent in New York is 17, and Japan where the federal age of consent is 13,<ref>although almost all localities have local laws making it 16 or 18</ref> although that one does cause some [[Values Dissonance]] when things get exported. The term for a person, or provocative pictures of them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke—according to the law, a minor can't give proper consent to sex since a naive and hormonal teenager might not make the most sound decisions and an adult could exploit that, hence the term "statutory rape".

 

Now, there's a fine line between '''Jail Bait''' and [[Ephebophile|ephebophilia]], and [[Accidental Innuendo|it depends on where it takes place]], where the perpetrator is ''from'' (some countries have "sex tourism" laws) and how old the victim is. Generally, sexual interest in anyone under 13 is considered paedophilia.

See also [[Legal Jailbait]] and [[The Jailbait Wait]]. Contrast [[Dawson Casting]]. Not to be confused with [[Jail Bake]]. Compare [[Fille Fatale]] which is a more...proactive version of this trope.

 

 

 

* In [[Mirai Nikki]], the two protagonists are both 14 years old. However, the story makes it ''reeeeeeeeeal'' easy to forget that fact. Besides almost being raped at one point, the female lead is constantly seen in a bra and panties (or less), chapter 52 {{spoiler|showcases the two of them having sex, complete with fully-exposed breasts.}} A case of [[Values Dissonance]] since the age of consent in Japan is 13.

* [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]] features Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami, both of whom are 14 and who are repeatedly depicted sans clothes or in suggestive poses. As with the above example, it is a case of values dissonance.

* [[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water|Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water's]] titular character is yet another 14 year old, who spends the majority of her screentime in a [[Stripperific|stripperiffic]] circus costume and is depicted as quite nubile, despite her age. This is often used for [[Fan Service|fanservice,]] at one point, spending almost two full episodes nude.

 

* Max Damage of ''[[Irredeemable|Incorruptible]]'' has a [[Perky Female Minion]] named Jailbait. Upon his [[Heel Face Turn]], he breaks up with her, citing [[Jail Bait Wait]].

 

== Film ==

* In the movie ''Lifeguard'', the chief lifeguard warns his assistant that having sex with an underage girl — even if she's willing — is a crime. Then he goes ahead and has sex with one anyway after warning the trainee that it's a bad idea.

* MTV had a TV movie about this named after the trope. The reason why it's notable is that the titular jailbait later became the Pink Ranger on [[Power Rangers SPD]].

 

== Literature ==

* [[Shotacon|Male example]] in ''[[Haunted 2005]]''. {{spoiler|Brandon Whittier is a thirteen-year-old boy suffering from progeria, which causes him to age at seven times the normal rate. He amasses a fortune by telling his nurses he's eighteen, begging them not to let him die a virgin, and then revealing his age and demanding money in exchange for not reporting them.}}

* In the early ''[[Posleen War Series]]'' novels, Cally O'Neill's apparent age, actual age, and willingness to defend her virtue at gunpoint caused posters with her picture on it to be put up all around her home town with the message: WARNING: Jailbait. To be considered armed and dangerous.

 

* In the first episode of ''[[Californication]]'', Hank has a one night stand with a young woman who turns out to be the sixteen-year-old daughter of his ex-girlfriend's fiancé (though he did not know who or how old she was at the time.) Three seasons of blackmail and plagiarism later, the truth is finally revealed and Hank is arrested and charged with statutory rape.

* When new watcher Wesley expresses interest in Cordelia on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', this is Faith's response:

 

== Music ==

* The song ''Jailbait'' by [[Motorhead]] is about underage groupies who show up at the band's shows.

* ''Christine Sixteen'' by [[Kiss]] is about an older man who becomes infatuated with a sixteen year old girl. Because of the controversial subject matter many radio stations refused to play the song when it was released in 1977.

* [[Joan Jett]], anyone? In her signature song, ''I Love Rock and Roll,'' she declares "I knew he musta been about seventeen." Joan was 21 when she first covered the song on a recording.

 

* In one early story arc of [[Least I Could Do]], Rayne met a girl in a bar, and slept with her, not unreasonably assuming that she was over 18. However, she was actually 16 and still in high school. Rayne was arrested but eventually acquitted as there was no way he could have known she was under age, since 16 year old high school students aren't supposed to hang around in bars. Rayne them asked if this meant [[Comically Missing the Point|he could legally sleep with sixteen year olds if he met them in bars]], causing John and his lawyer to drag him out of the courtroom.

 

== Web Original ==

* A flash game on [[Newgrounds]] deals with this trope, in which the viewer is asked to [[Schmuck Bait|identify whether the featured celebrity]] is Jail Bait or legal. [http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/192840 Surprisingly safe for work], but expect to be called a [[Covert Pervert]] if you guess wrong with ''actual'' jailbait, and [[Ambiguously Gay]] if you guess wrong if they're legal.

* During his Let's Play of ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'', [[The Spoony Experiment|Spoony]] repeatedly comments on how creepy it is to see 15 year old Rikku sexualized as much as she is, including repeated [[Male Gaze|ass shots]].<ref>Note that the age of consent in the game's country of origin is actually ''13'' making this a case of [[Values Dissonance]] as well.</ref>

[[Category:Sex Tropes]]

[[Category:Usually Female]]

[[Category:No Real Life Examples, Please]]