Men: At what age are women the most attractive for marriage?

[Pb]

I was read an article the other day in which a woman encouraged younger women to look for potential husbands in college- the idea being that they could attract a better quality husband when they are more youthful.

Is this true in your opinion?  At what age do you think women are most attractive as marriage partners?

[Jocassee]

I am familiar with the line of philosophy in the article you read and I agree with it...however I would never marry a college age girl simply because most of them don't know *expletive deleted*it. If I met one that was smart and well read I would consider it.

I don't think its any great secret that younger women are usually more attractive but there's a lot more than that under consideration for wife material.

The overall cultural trend of "finding yourself" is probably what that article is taking aim at.

[roo_ster]

I was read an article the other day in which a woman encouraged younger women to look for potential husbands in college- the idea being that they could attract a better quality husband when they are more youthful.

Is this true in your opinion?  At what age do you think women are most attractive as marriage partners?

The author is on to something, for all sorts of reasons. 
1. Women are more/most attractive to men at that age and will likely parley that into a more advantageous match relative to later in time.
2. No career to interrupt with a marriage.
3. If she wants kids, having them younger is the smart move (birth defects, energy to raise them, career diversion, etc.)
4. The number of similar status male dating options is as high as it is ever going to be.
5. The time available to vet suitors is as high as it is ever going to be.

Part of the problem is the social expectations of later marriage, which the author I presume addresses. 

But there are other issues that drive the age at which men & women marry.  These factors can be grouped under the label, "Affordable Family Formation."
1. General state of the economy.  Harder times push the age out and result in fewer births.  The age is pushed out farther for men than women for obvious reasons.
2. College cost/debt.  Debt service means poorer/less credit available and hits cash flow.  More debt drives up marrying age.
3a. Immigration/immigrants driving down the labor market clearing house price.  IOW, higher supply of labor from H1B & similar visas drives down skilled wages.  It will take longer to accumulate the capital to put a down payment on a house, for example.  Or result in more unemployment.
3b. Immigration/immigrants driving up demand for housing, making it more expensive for new families to afford their own living arrangements. (Can we say, "Sand State Housing Bubble?")
3c. Immigrants taking up STEM grad student slots because the colleges prefer the taste of full-price, out of state tuition on a student visa to local boys who might not be as passive in the face of administrative self-aggrandizement.

[fifth_column]

Actually there's a couple of interpretations of your question.  Going with the less obvious one, a man has to be pretty young to be attracted to marriage . . .

[Perd Hapley]

Question, as asked, is far too broad. (Pun intended.)

 How old is the man, and what is his situation? Does the lady intend to get a degree, or have a career?

Why is 15-17 not an option? 

[French G.]

About 32 and had kids already if she wants to. As a 39 year old single man there is nothing more terrifying to me than a 35-40 year old woman with no kids that wants them. They will make any number of bad decisions to get there. Despite the half age +6 thing I'm beginning to have my doubts about women much younger than 30.

[brimic]

I'm going with 'it depends.'
If you are looking to have kids, the younger, the better.
If you are looking for a companion, then a similar age, similar values, similar experiences that can be related to are probably more important.

[BlueStarLizzard]

I accediently skewed your results. I clicked the vote before I saw that you had opened the option to veiw results without voting.

Oh, well... (and I hit the 29-30, since I am 30 )

Link to article?

[brimic]

I accediently skewed your results. I clicked the vote before I saw that you had opened the option to veiw results without voting.

Oh, well... (and I hit the 29-30, since I am 30 )

Link to article?

So the correct answer to the poll is 'whatever age Liz is at?'   

[MillCreek]

I voted for 25-28, on the basis that by that time, they have probably been out of college for a few years and started to get established in their career.  That was the theory behind Ms. MillCreek 1.0, whom was 26 when we were married.

[zahc]

You left out a couple brackets at the good ages?

Women are like cats...if you get them young they can be housebroken; once they go feral, it's too late.

[lee n. field]

I was read an article the other day in which a woman encouraged younger women to look for potential husbands in college- the idea being that they could attract a better quality husband when they are more youthful.

Is this true in your opinion?  At what age do you think women are most attractive as marriage partners?

Depends.

[41magsnub]

Depends.

Digging the grannies I see!

[Tallpine]

Your question is defective.  It doesn't make any sense.   


What age is the man?
Does he even want to get married?
Does he want kids, or just a partner?
How did all those animals fit inside the Ark?

[brimic]

How did all those animals fit inside the Ark?

They didn't. Its why dinosaurs are extinct.

[vaskidmark]

Never heard the saying that young women go to college to earn their Mrs. degree?

Even with today's "equality" young women are being encouraged to latch onto an up and coming stud with good salary prospects.

OTOH, said young studs might be much better served waiting a while and then latching on to an older, expereienced, intellectually and emotionally mature woman.

stay safe.

[Fitz]

a few months after their 19th birthday ;-)

[BlueStarLizzard]

So the correct answer to the poll is 'whatever age Liz is at?'   

Yesh

I'm betting the actual answer is "at whatever age works best for that couple" and will add that my mothers most successful marriage/relationship was the one after she passed the 50 year mark. Many years later, it's still going strong.

[Jamisjockey]

I personally think a woman who takes care of herself hits peak looks and physical attractiveness in that 25-30 age range.  That is all.

[Perd Hapley]

They didn't. Its why dinosaurs are extinct.

Tallpine never learned about the dinos going extinct. It wasn't in his textbooks.

[Fitz]

I personally think a woman who has the money to get a boob job is usually in the 25-30 age range.  That is all.

FTFY :-D

[Tallpine]

Tallpine never learned about the dinos going extinct. It wasn't in his textbooks.

Moreover, I'm not extinct yet   

[zahc]

I personally think a woman who takes care of herself hits peak looks and physical attractiveness in that 25-30 age range.  That is all.

If true, that means by definition, it's all downhill from there.

[RoadKingLarry]

We were 19 when we married. After almost 32 years it seems to have worked out so far. So I'll have to go with that age bracket.

On the other hand, should my wife kick off, my current choice would be none of the above.

[Harold Tuttle]

X/2+7