[AryaUnderfoot]

Honestly, the ages of the sexually active girls in these books, while they are younger than I would prefer, is not something that raises any red flags with me. People talk of what used to be acceptable, what's acceptable now, and make comparisons to this story, but a careful look at modern times will show that our views about young girls' sexuality are pretty darn messed up. We have pop icons like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson representing the virgin/whore dichotomy that seems to be ever prevalent in society, encouraging girls to be alternately demure and seductive. Young girls all over this country, and I'm sure all over the globe as well, are experimenting sexually as we speak. They're taught by their parents and in schools that sex is taboo and a no-no until they're married or in love, but then they turn on the TV and there is their favorite singer, barely clad, gyrating her hips and singing about how "drrrrty" she is. They can't walk down the street without seeing sex at every turn. Every day I see girls who are as young as 12 years old who are dressed like little sexpots. And I'm sure that a great number of them are sexually active. They're just taught to hide it, to be ashamed of it.
I'm not saying I think it's right- I think it's sad, actually. But I am saying that GRRM's books do reflect what is happening in our world today.