Time to Get Modern

Bigwheel asked, “Why is incest illegal in most western countries?”

That’s a good question.

While I don't personally admit to having any incestual tendencies myself, I find it strange that consensual incest between two adults (note that the definition of incest will differ from place to place) is still illegal in most western nations.

While most might find it somewhat repulsive; personal or societal feelings of disgust should in no way influence the legality of what two consenting adults do in the bedroom. No doubt, had we listened to the majority consensus of what is 'disgusting' and therefore 'wrong', homosexual sex may never have been legalised either.

I know in the country I live, Australia, penalties for incest are potentially MUCH greater than most other developed nations out there. Yet in countries like Brazil, consensual incest is legal. In France, laws against incest were scrapped after the French revolution (along with laws against homosexuality) as a religious taboo; but were reintroduced within the last decade.

Why is incest still illegal?!

@ Golden. Please keep in mind that even same-sex incest, which bears no risk of reproduction, is still illegal. Furthermore, incestual sex in no way guarantees that a child will suffer a significant genetic abnormality, although the risks are higher. As well as this, we do have contraceptive items such as condoms available at most local supermarkets.

Kathy had the best answer…

Purely objectively... There is no reason for incest laws for adults. They originated in days when small, isolated communities tended to intermarry... repeatedly... leading to genetic abnormalities among the offspring.

But today, that is not a problem. And a biologically related couple interested in having children can have genetic testing to see if a child would be at risk. If it's inadvisable, then we have birth control options that didn't exist in the "old days." If they don't carry recessive genes, it would be safe to have children. And they can find all this out beforehand.

Thank you, Kathy.

No answer to the question was able to explain why consanguineous sex between consenting adults should be illegal.

Time and time again, this question is asked, and time and time again, there’s no good response justifying criminal penalties. We should keep asking the question, and keep pointing this out. Minds are being changed, and the more minds that are changed, the more we will move towards equality and the more consanguinamory can be enjoyed without fear.