I know a number of friends whose daughters at the age of twelve...

I know a number of friends whose daughters at the age of twelve have already reached puberty. But I would be shattered, and disgusted, if their parents encouraged them to marry. And worse, if the preferred male was approaching an age where he would be deemed to be a grandfather. Which does not seem that unusual, and disgusting, in countries still stuck in the Dark Ages.

But I also despise the sexualisation of children in Western societies, epitomised by our retail stores in their endeavours to push girls into dresses more suited to womanhood.