Slayers' age when called

[Chosen Enemy]

It has always seemed weird to me that the Slayers were called in such young age. How did they expect the Slayers to take that very important responsibility, when most teenagers aren't responsible enough? How did they expect a 15 year old girl to have the whole world's safety on her shoulder?
All a teenage girl wants is to hang with friends, shop, etc., have all the things normal girls have. Maybe if Slayers were called when already adults, they could be mentally stronger, they could be more responsible. It doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Cast No Shadow]

I guess they wanted them at their physical peak. Plus, not all of them want to shop, hang out with friends, etc. Buffy was different to most slayers, there were other slayers, such as Kendra who were trained to know it was their destiny and that they may be called young.

 

[nightshade]

Maybe it's because they are easier to manipulate at that age compared to when they are adults.

 

[Summerlilly]

I always wondered about this too. Maybe it's related to discovering who you are as a teenager. In the eyes of the Council who they're supposed to become is The Slayer, so the earlier the better?

 

[PassionBecoming]

I agree with the above: They are at a physical peak, they are easily controlled (in theory), and many are told when they're young they could be called and begin training right away. It is said/alluded to more than once that Buffy is a bit of an enigma as a slayer.

 

[arabella]

When the shadow men did the spell, a teen girl was an adult. I do agree that younger girls were used for the ease of manipulation and ease of physical fitness. Only in recent culture are teenagers expected to behave as something between children and adults rather than as adults.

 

[david4wt]

Well, adolescence is a cultural invention so when the Shadow Men created the Slayer, she was an adult!

 

[BuffyElevated]

I guess they wanted them at their physical peak. Plus, not all of them want to shop, hang out with friends, etc. Buffy was different to most slayers, there were other slayers, such as Kendra who were trained to know it was their destiny and that they may be called young.

I agree with [MENTION=11317]castnoshadow[/MENTION]... I think the reason Slayers were called so young is because typically your body is in better shape when you're in your teens/early 20's. This would mean they'd be better equipped to fight.