My big, fat honkin obnoxious New York/Philly/NJ Jewish family that have redistributed themselves throughout the South, that's where! It's ridiculous!

This is not the 1950s. If the standards were still there today from the 1950s, then many women would be trouble. In the 1950s, not marrying by age 28 would consider the woman to be old. Today, there is no timetale to get married by a certain age.

Yes, women get pressured by society to get married. If they are married because all of their friends have gotten married, guess who will be signing the divorce papers.

Also, on a side note, I believe that the right age to get married is 21 to 22. Of course you can wait longer. There are celebrities who get married at 19 or 20 years old. Look at Jodie Sweetin, she got married at age 20. That's too young.

Definitely not the right age to get married... not for ME at least. I was in a serious and loving relationship at that age, and thinking very seriously about marriage. I sincerely believe now that if I had gotten married then, I would be divorced already.

I PERSONALLY think that 21 is a ridiculously young age to get married.

ETA: Do you have that opinion because you were married at that age?

Because everyone knows that there is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge world of difference between 20 and 21!! That must be why Jodie ended up on TEH METH. If she would have waited until she was 21 she'd be fine.

Wait, is a 21-22 year old seriously that much more mature than a 20 year old? What does 1 more year have to do with anything?

And also, I think any deterioration of Jodie Sweetin's marriage was due to her um, METH ADDICTION, and not the fact that she married young.

Come on.

Damn you beat me.

I think it depends on the person. Some people may be mature enough to be married at 20, but I wouldn't have been. I'm engaged now, with a baby, at 23. I feel like I'm ready to be married now, but I don't feel pressured about it.

But isn't this statement contradictory? Many women of the 1950's era married either just after high school or while in college, placing them in the aforementioned age bracket.

In 2006, I have met some 20 year olds with their heads on straighter than other men or women twice that age. And conversely, I know men and women who were ready for marriage at age 25, and other 25 year olds who were worlds away from that kind of decision.

I don't think it is up to any one to judge the right age to be married. I remember reading some statistic that women marry (on average) at around 27, and men (on average) at around age 32. There are highs and lows to those age groups. This doesn't mean a single 28 year old should feel she has not accomplished something, or that a married 23 should feel "ahead of the curve." Marriage should be a personal choice and a binding decision made between two consenting adults. Age shouldn't be a factor, and marriage shouldn't be something you "have" to do or be required to do.

Bottomline, you should marry when you and your partner feel it is the right decision. Still, society does place more pressure on single women to marry than it does on single men.

ETA: I know people mean well when they ask if you are dating someone or they just think that what made them happy (being married, being parents...) is the end-all of happiness and wish you the same.... but it is obnoxious. I know they are well-intentioned, so it is hard to be rude to them... but it is annoying!

My extended family would always ask when I was getting married or if I had someone serious. It was so annoying. My parents never did that thank god. Although they weren't entirely thrilled when I got pregnant before the wedding, but they've accepted it now, good thing since the baby is here.

Taualumna, does your extended family know about Mr. Taualumna? If they do, or your parents may have mentioned to them, there's no need to ask because it's obvious you're dating.

Nope. No one knows about Mr. Tau except for my parents and my closest girl friends.

SHOOT!! I only have 6 months to find a husband then!

Agreed. You get married if and when you feel it's the right time and you're with the partner you want to spend the rest of your life with - not just because you've reached some arbitrary age and feel that you have to get married right now or forever be an old maid - and not just because you haven't reached an arbitrary age (i.e. "I feel the person I'm dating is the perfect partner for me, I want to grow old with him/her, but I'm only 28 and I swore I wouldn't get married until I was 30").

Damn adpiucf you beat me to it...I was reading that and going uuuh riight.

And I agree with you on moving away from the family definitely helping...I suggest 3000 miles if you can :)

Oh been there, done that. Twice. Now I'm only a 1000 or so miles... Maybe 1500...

I think Boston or London would be a good move for me!