MARRIED AT FIFTEEN ?

[CaseHardened]

Tough subject - Very tough.

First of all, we are very willing to identify ANY animal as ADULT when it is able to procreate.

So our only discussion should be whether SOCIETY and CULTURE allows HUMANS to procreate as soon as possible - not Biology.

Centuries ago it was vital humans reproduce as soon as biologically possible.

NO MORE.

So now the constraint must be CULTURE. Which is as weak as a day-old kitten.

She’s 15 and married: ‘What’s the point of making her wait?’ mom says

 

[CaseHardened]

Any ANTHROPOLIGIST could recite to you the many varied - yet very STRICT - customs that even "primitive" tribes have concerning Marriage.

What this should tell us, is, that having children MUST be restricted to couples that can raise and care for children in the manner that, that culture has found to be effective.

These criteria were never arbitrary. They were PRACTICAL, requiring decades, centuries, millennium to tune.

 

[holdover]

People have been doing it since there were people. The age of 15-16 doesn't make that big of a difference to me .Human nature isn't wrong .

Of course in our society today , We cannot allow it on the grounds that the couple cannot take care of themselves at that age. They become a problem for everybody around them . A few hundred years ago that may not have been the issue .Culture will dictate whether its acceptable or not.

 

[Celt]

I get the argument, but as holdover said they cannot take of themselves at that age. Back when we were living in caves they could take care of themselves at that age so there is a difference. And now, with the way the education system is ( and a Severe lack of true parenting) I feel it takes even longer for younger people to mature to a point where they can take care of themselves.

 

[Saltwater60]

Absolutely agree. Way back when they were forced to be married and have kids at 14-15 most people only lives until 40 or so. Also people were much more mature back then. Also don’t forget daughters were “sold” a lot of times as well.

 

[masterswimmer]

Times change. If we just go back to 1900, life expectancy for both men and women was just under 50 y/o. Go back a few hundred years and life expectancy was in the mid 30's.

Marriage in those early years where life was short required procreation at what we consider in this day and age as irresponsible. Nature 'told' women they can reproduce somewhere around 12 y/o. Absurd in today's culture, but those early times it was necessary so that mother's lived long enough to raise their children.

In today's society, with life expectancy more than double those early days it allows our children to grow up themselves before bearing the responsibility of child rearing.

15 y/o today is, IMO ridiculous and irresponsible. It's virtually third world. YMMV

 

[Criticalt]

Times change. If we just go back to 1900, life expectancy for both men and women was just under 50 y/o. Go back a few hundred years and life expectancy was in the mid 30's.

Marriage in those early years where life was short required procreation at what we consider in this day and age as irresponsible. Nature 'told' women they can reproduce somewhere around 12 y/o. Absurd in today's culture, but those early times it was necessary so that mother's lived long enough to raise their children.

In today's society, with life expectancy more than double those early days it allows our children to grow up themselves before bearing the responsibility of child rearing.

15 y/o today is, IMO ridiculous and irresponsible. It's virtually third world. YMMV

Ill second all he just said.
Saves me some typing.
Also, we need to remember some girls get their first period at age 8 or 9. Should they start breeding?
At that age the odds of birth defect is astronomical.

 

[togmaster]

That couple sounds like a train wreck. I'd hate to see any of the children from that marriage.

 

[Robin]

There are a lot of women in their teen's thought their forty's that shouldn't breed, ever. How do you get them to stop?!?!?!?!
Robin

 

[holdover]

Stop buying them drinks.