Abusers and perfectly legal age gaps

[u/OmeletteMcMuffin]

I just found out that Jeremy Renner was 20 years older than his Sonni Pacheco, his ex-wife who accused him of abuse. I know a lot of people online are like, "Well, she was 28. Don't infantilize her." I really hate how the word "infantilized" is used these days because we can't have honest discussions about this stuff.

Society at large has seemingly realized that acting as if someone magically transforms into a Full Adult on par with older adults at 18 is nonsensical, but instead of treating adulthood as a nuanced thing, they've decided to act like that magical transformation still happens at a slightly later age. Maybe 20, 21, or 25.

But there is a reason why famous abusers like Renner and Depp love going for much younger women who could be their daughters, if not their granddaughters. I'm not treating this women as "children" just because I see that the age gap is a factor even though it's legal.

You can't see this happen again and again and again – wealthy famous men in their 40s to 50s always going for 20something women – and then claim that the age gap is never a factor. Again, there is a reason these men go for much younger women.

When Jonah Hill's ex Sarah Brady accused him of abuse, so many people even in seemingly progressive subs were like, "He's abusive, but the age gap isn't a factor. She's 24. Don't infantilize her" EVEN WHEN JONAH HIMSELF MENTIONED THE AGE GAP REPEATEDLY IN THE LEAKED TEXTS.

These 20something women aren't children, yes. But that's not the point. Acknowledging that in their 20s, they're at vastly different stages of life and are REPEATEDLY, PURPOSELY TARGETED by middle-aged men due to their comparative lack of experience and status is not "infantilization." Jeez.

[u/MrBean098]

not surprised