I don't think I'm actually disagreeing with you over the definition of "real personhood", but I think I experienced the growth to real personhood differently.
It infuriated me when I was thirteen whenever more attention was paid to older customers, etc. (Which, incidentally, is why I bank where I do, and I have the phone service I do. They always treated me well, at 13 or 20, regardless of how convenient I was.)
Being a "real" person is something about, for me, having control of your person. And yeah, a lot of said control (civic duty, legal liability, etc) is bound to age- 18 and 21 being most notable in this country. But I had the experience much earlier then twenty of having to take control of my actions, and thus my person. Mostly this was because I've a wicked temper, and so to me, the question of to hit or not to wound is a bit more immediate. But that control of personhood is learned much earlier, and much later, then twenty.
no subject
It infuriated me when I was thirteen whenever more attention was paid to older customers, etc. (Which, incidentally, is why I bank where I do, and I have the phone service I do. They always treated me well, at 13 or 20, regardless of how convenient I was.)
Being a "real" person is something about, for me, having control of your person. And yeah, a lot of said control (civic duty, legal liability, etc) is bound to age- 18 and 21 being most notable in this country. But I had the experience much earlier then twenty of having to take control of my actions, and thus my person. Mostly this was because I've a wicked temper, and so to me, the question of to hit or not to wound is a bit more immediate. But that control of personhood is learned much earlier, and much later, then twenty.