If I had a daughter...

...she would be allowed to keep relationships with whomever she liked, regardless of her age or his, provided I was allowed to know him as well (i.e. she wasn't secretive about it).

Would I encourage my underage daughter who was well under the age of consent to pursue an expressly romantic/sexual relationship with someone over the age of 18? No.

Would I take action to prevent such a relationship from continuing if I was aware of it? Absolutely. And I would make sure she understood that it was only out of a desire to protect them both from a punishing society that would disapprove no matter how great a guy he was.

Not only that, but allowing the relationship would, as you mention, be subjecting them to the unhealthy and unfair pressure of having to keep a secret which could seriously hurt everyone involved if found out.

So the answer is no. I would no more allow my daughter to actually "date" an older man than I would myself "date" a little girl... but I would not otherwise interfere with her relationships that seem to be perfectly healthy. :)

- Rainbow