The period of adolescence is lengthening in industrialized cultures such as europe, the united states, and australia. adolescents are taking more time to finish their education and establish careers. the average age for a first marriage in the united states is now 29 for men and for women.

it is a part of john locke's natural rights popular during the age of enlightenment that people had inalienable rights to life, liberty and property. this was reflected by thomas jefferson in his declaration of independence as rights to life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

another line in the declaration of independence is that people have certain rights just because they are human. humans are capable of obeying the three natural rights john locke mentioned making them governable by these laws and therefore entitled to these rights as well.