Okay to lust after a 17 year old?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware of Taylor Lautner Fever that’s been sweeping the world.
The star of the Twilight series has young girls giggling whenever his name is mentioned, and flipping out when they see yet another shirtless picture of him.
However, let’s not forget the fact that grown women (and some grown men) are also lusting after him, and all usually utter the same sentence before talking about him, “I feel like an absolute perv because he’s only 17, but man is he hot!”.
I know people are using the I-feel-like-a-perv Disclaimer because I’ve heard it from friends and have seen it all over the Net.
Okay…and because I’ve said it, too.
Anyhow, my actual point is this….As an adult, is it really okay to lust over someone not even old enough to vote? Someone who just got their Driver’s License a year ago?
Believe me - I enjoy seeing pictures of him on TV without his shirt just as much as the next person…..but would we be just as okay seeing a 17 year old girl’s image being pushed in such an obviously sexual way…? Or would we think it was somehow wrong?
I ask this about teenage girls while thinking about Vincent Gallo’s statement about Sarah Palin’s daughters, which caused some to ask if he’s a pedophile:
He said, “Look, have you seen that Palin family? She is so hot. And her daughters are so hot.” I said, “Which one, the pregnant one [Bristol, 17] or the younger one [Willow, 14]?” He said, “Both of them. They’re the hottest family I’ve ever seen.” I said, “So are you a pedophile?” And he said, “I’ve been called worse things.” (Gawker)
My opinion is it does seem slightly different for women to lust after Lautner than grown men talking about how hot they think 17 year old Emma Watson is in Harry Potter.
An example of how differently society sees a grown man / teenage girl situation from an adult woman / teenage boy one might be how some people see the Teacher / Student Affair.
What do I mean?
Well, each time a “good-looking female teacher having an affair with a teenage boy” situation came to light, many men made jokes like “Wow – where were teachers like that when I was in high school!” and “Lucky kid!”.
If the situation had been reversed and a 35 year old male teacher was sleeping with a 16 year old girl, would anyone have thought the teacher was doing anything other than stepping over the line?
Anyhow, I’m not advocating we force Mr. Lautner (is he even old enough to be called “mister”?) to cover up whenever he he a photo shoot or movie….I’m just saying, as good as he looks, I definitely do feel a bit skeevy even acknowledging it.
Of course, doesn’t mean I’m going to turn the channel when he’s on TV….no need to waste a perfectly good television interview.
Note: Taylor Lautner Fever is not an actual Syndrome, so please don’t call your physician requesting a Test.
Second Note: Please accept my apologies if you have indeed been living under a rock.
Ann currently works for a Fortune 50 company as a Global Project Manager, and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology / Communications and Human Relations. She lives in Connecticut with her boyfriend and two adorable dogs.
I know what you mean. I definitely feel like a dirty old lady when it comes to him!
I do think it’s different for some reason, although I guess it really shouldn’t be when you think about it.
we’ve been seeing young female teens overtly sexualized for SO LONG, think Britney Spears in the schoolgirl outfit!, think Miley Cyrus who looks like a total tart. I think acknowledging this kid is attractive isn’t a big deal, it depends on HOW lusty one feels. I don’t get it, to me he seems like a kid, not attractive, and i have a feeling he’s gay….talk to me in 5 years when he gets the cover of people and is coming out. PLEASE DON’T EMAIL ME HATE MAIL
It’s just a theory that my gadar is telling me 
good interesting post!!!
Conquer the Monkey – You make a great point! I was thinking of the Britney Spears video myself.
It’s funny though, as I do know men who are hesitant to talk about teenage girls in the media as being hot out of concern for seeming ‘dirty’.
Of course, Hugh Hefner and his two 18 year old girlfriends doesn’t appear to be one of those people
(I’m sure if I’d had more time I would have thought of something far wittier to write than that)
I don’t seem to be suffering from this fever, but I do understand what you mean. Throughout my adult life, I’ve tended toward two very different types of male – cute boys and waay older men (e.g., I’m married to a man 15 years my senior). It’s an interesting phenomenon. Gotta’ think about that one.
You know, here’s what it really comes down to:
It’s perfectly fine to think it’s hot.
It would NOT, however, be perfectly fine to have sex with him since he is, of course, underage.
As for all the grown women and men who lust after Taylor Lautner, there’s probably only a very small percentage who, if locked in a room with him, would even entertain the idea of actually DOING anything with him.
So my point is, no, I don’t feel too bad about it at all
My mom thinks he’s sexy. It’s NOT okay for one’s mom to lust after a 17-year-old. I just lack the ability to lust after someone that much younger than I.
Lust is lust, it doesn’t have a rule book in fantasyland.
We were in the theater when he pulled off his shirt in the movie, all the girls were screaming wildly for him, that’s lust, and that is OK. (my opinion)
Secretia
Bachelor Girl – I agree….I think it’s okay to Lust after him (or another much younger person), too.
Especially him.
Just kidding…..kinda.
Stephanie – OMG, I know it may not seem this way because it’s your mom, but I think that’s adorable!
What’s interesting is I’d be fine if my mom voiced attraction to a really young guy – I’d probably think it was innocent & cute. But if my dad said the same thing about a really young girl, I’d be really upset.
Secretia – I’m with you….he’s adorable, and I think it’s all innocent anyhow (and it was pretty funny when the 16 year olds went nuts in the theater!).
Cristy – I’m the same way….I can see an older good looking man or a hot younger guy and find them both attractive.
Um, no. It is not okay. For both males and females. No particular reason, it just gives me the hibbie-jivvies to think of a 40-year-old woman having sex thoughts abt a 17 year old! But yeah, for an older guy, that’s worse!
Funny you bring this up. I was just feeling like a total pedophile after watching this movie with my daughter. I never watched the first movie and basically knew nothing about this guy, so technically I didn’t know how old he was.
When I found out I felt like I needed to turn myself in to the authorities or something.
Ok…I will admit I too am not stricken with the fever. LOL. Now, McDreamy on the other hand.
Eh, he’s not my cup of tea…now Clive Owen is another story… ;o)
Welcome to the SITS community!
I’m not into the whole Twilight hoopla, fortunately!!!
Welcome to SITS. I know that you will enjoy being a part of this vibrant community of bloggers
I think there’s a difference. It’s ok for me to say Taylor is hot , because I’m never going to act on it. It’s not ok for me to say, “I’m 36 and I’m having a love affair with a hot 17-year-old.”
I’ll say it right now: Taylor Lautner is HOT!!!! Makes me want to switch to Team Jacob! YUM!!!!
I came by to welcome you to SITS! We’re happy to have you with us!
It’s nice to see that when ladies are subjected to the the female version Hardbodies or Porky’s they react the same way as we do except worse. I think most of you ladies are just overjoyed that some guy looks like that and isn’t gay…. Or is he?
I think it is only natural to be attracted to beauty, both in men and women. However, there is a difference between finding someone beautiful and adding a sex vibe to that. The admiration for the beauty is ok IMO. The “he is yummy” thing… is a little pervy. But cougars are in fashion now, n’est ce pa?
Jokes aside, I think the fixation some adult women have for the Twilight characters are downright creepy.
And I agree that there is a double standard. I think men are usually seen as more sex-oriented than women, so admiring a young woman for a man comes across as pervy.
I found this post interesting to say the least. I agree that this kid is good looking and will have girls screaming at him for years to come. In my mind, I see him as cute and “if I were that age I would be sooo in love with him” but I don’t honestly lust after him. I just see his ‘pretty’ qualities and admire that, not in a sick and perverted way, but I guess in a more artistic way.
Okay, I live under a rock. Admitting it is the first step, right?
Wow, this guy does nothing for me. Too beefy and too young. I like ‘em more scrawny and less pretty boy. But hey, that’s just me.
I think it’s okay to lust as long as you don’t act on it. Everyone has dirty thoughts but most wouldn’t dare to do a thing about it. Nothing wrong with that in my book.
Mandy – You’re so funny about living under a rock! LOL!
Elisa – I think you make a fabulous point with your observation of “I think men are usually seen as more sex-oriented than women, so admiring a young woman for a man comes across as pervy.” !
Jayde – It’s funny….I see much younger boys and have the same “if I were seventeen….” thoughts. And although I think this particular guy is extremely beautiful, I can’t seriously see someone that young in a completely sexual way. I mean, he JUST learned how to drive!
Honestly I can see the guys appeal. He has a certain attractiveness that is usually reserved for gay men. Usually no straight man takes care of himself that much. At least without being completely self absorbed (which is oddly more acceptable for ladies than men). To me Twighlight seems to be a modern take on Fabioesque romance novels. I can’t see a mature woman falling for this without recognizing the innate creepiness of it all. It’s kinda like me watching the Disney channel and getting wood. Sure you might not admit it but have the decency to change the channel when you’re not alone. LOL
But I am all for ladies acting like typical men. It makes me have hope that one day this whole gender thing will even out and you can be free to be as piggy piggy piggy as us menfolk. At least then everyones honest.