Marriageable age

Before feminism, a man would be considered to be marriageable in his late teens or early 20s. He would have done some schooling and then perhaps apprenticeship in some trade and would be earning a family wage. He knew what was in store for him and what was expected of him. Of course not everyone followed this format, but most men were ready for marriage by their mid 20s at the latest.

Nowadays, a lot of men aren't ready for marriage until their early 30s. The average age at first marriage is now around 29 for men.

While the average age at first marriage is 29 for men, this is not to be confused with "age of marriageability". Since a large percentage of first marriages end in divorce, and since most divorces are initiated by women, it is likely that a lot of men are unmarriageable when they marry. So the average age of marriageability is probably a couple of years beyond 29. In any case, many men "grow up" by their mid-30s, and by that time are reasonably successful in their careers. Experience in the workforce adds up and their earning potential and wealth increases.

On the other hand, the average age of marriageability for women has gone in the opposite direction. Before feminism, a 25 year old single woman would have been considered to be quite marriageable. In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte marries at the age of 27. True, she was considered by some of her contemporaries to be an "old maid", but still, her marriageability would not have been in any doubt.

What did "marriageability" of a woman mean in Jane Austen's day?

• She had domestic skills and could look after a home.
• She wanted children.
• She was a virgin and she had not had any ex-boyfriends or husbands
• She didn't have children from previous relationships.
• She had not cohabited with anyone.
• She didn't have any emotional baggage.
• She didn't have a career.
• She didn't have student debts.

By these standards, a woman living today, of the same age as Charlotte (27) when she married Collins, would be woefully unmarriageable - and the passage of time would only make her more so.