[Nowhere Man]

I believe that back in Victorian times, middle-class gentlemen were more likely to marry at around or after 30, to women in their early twenties. Marriage was deferred until the man could support a wife, which meant that men married well-into their careers

That is so true. I'm into the Victorian/Edwardian era historically and for the most part men past the age of 25 to maybe in the mid 30's and even a little beyond usually went to social events like dances and the like. Usually the women there were like 17, 18 to the early 20's and that's how some people found each other in order to court and hopefully marry.

I've heard from various Biblical scholars that Joseph was around 30 or so and Mary was 15 to about 18 when she married Joseph and had Jesus so there is precident where the man concentrated on his career and taking care of many issues before taking a wife.

I guess deep down inside I think I found a good term to describe me politically and socially, "neo-Victorian." B-)

[SauronOfMordor]

I've heard from various Biblical scholars that Joseph was around 30 or so and Mary was 15 to about 18 when she married Joseph and had Jesus so there is precident where the man concentrated on his career and taking care of many issues before taking a wife.

Looking at it from a practical standpoint, historically the man was not a viable husband until he had enough income and assets to support a wife, which generally happened after age 25. Conversely, families had an incentive to get the girls married off early after puberty, so as to not have to worry about teen pregnancy (or to deal with teen pregnancy after the fact!)