Women were designed to start having children in their teens, a time where they are at their maximum physical fitness, and have the most years ahead of them to raise the kids.
By that regard, some could start at 13 (or younger). Unfortunately, that would land most males in prison. Most females (and males) sadly have been so infantilized today that they don’t possess the maturity to properly parent a child until middle age (if that).
That should be “chase the kids,” ;) My parents were youngish, early 20s when they got married. So were one set of grandparents. My grandma was 46 when I was born. Some are becoming parents not much younger. Good thing grandma was young ‘cause I needed lots of chasing.
If women were breeding machines you might be right.
DNA drives the evolution of organisms to reproduce successfully. In humans that has produced a very long period of fertility from 13-50 yrs in many women. The first 10 years of that and the last 10 years are suboptimal for the health of mother & offspring. Suboptimal means nothing without reference to each individual life just as the individual is not tied to making maximum reproduction their goal.
My daughter is turning 23. I certainly hope she waits another 2-3 years before marriage and children. People form their belief in self worth, their sense of purpose and set the scope of their lives in those first post college/post graduate years.
Its a very differently shaped life when you marry out of high school or after starting a career. I believe we are richer as a society by having both.