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...that's because 13 year old boys are adults, and human beings understand that more or less instinctually. Yes, usually we'll give some or other reason to pretend otherwise, but how we say we treat them vs. how we actually treat them is always different (and usually completely self-serving, in the older party's case) so we know that's a lie.
We expect 13 year old boys to take on adult responsibilities for social order yet grant them none of the rights that come along with that, which is how we justify absolutely bizarre things like "boys who are statutory raped are still liable for child support". Executing that age group for capital crimes is the historical norm- and let's not get started on the Volkssturm or Hamas' choice of soldiers.
It's mostly the women who encourage that, by the way- just another asset to be used up in warfare. Human doings at their finest.
Things were better for 13 year old men 150 years ago as the balance of right and responsibility was a bit more even; it's only within the last hundred years where they lost their rights. Of course, the same is true for men in general, it's just naturally far more pronounced in a population that can't fight back as effectively.
You may notice that the former were the pathetic last-ditch force of a faction that was effectively defeated and was trying not to realize that, and the other is likely heading towards a similar position (if it is not already there). Child soldiers are the disgusting last resort of a faction that has no meaningful right to use violence.
But the fact remains that they are still treated and used as a force, for the motherly "don't kill my babies" reflex obviously no longer applies to them, and pragmatically because their combat effectiveness isn't negative. (Again, this is the entire point I'm making.)
If they were still young enough for their mothers to discourage their children from fighting a war they've already lost, that would be one thing. But they're not.
Factions, like those who form them, are allowed tantrums over stupid things that they don’t have any right to be upset about. In the cases I've named, throwing their children's lives away is that tantrum (as distinct from the Africans, where the context and circumstances for child soldiers are significantly different).
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No, 13 year old boys are not adults, even biologically. Their voices are just starting to crack.
Yes, 13 year old girls are biological adults. Boys are not. Male puberty occurs later.
There are very good arguments for ‘16 year olds are basically adults, let’s stop pretending they aren’t’. But not (male)13 year olds.
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