I believe there is no natural in all of this. People are as society treats them. To the extent that this is so, much hangs on Aries' thesis. At this point in the argument I do not argue against this practice. I simply argue against our pretending that what is a choice is really nature.
Nature is a given.
We simply cope with it, like we learn to live with the law of gravity. Choice is the realm of moral action. We have a moral obligation to defend our choices, to recognize them as choices. Such a view of young people would radically change the picture of parenting and living in our society. A second important consequence of Aries' thesis concerns compulsory schooling.