There is definitely a double-standard, but those attitudes are going the way of the dinosaurs.
A woman who won't get married just for the sake of getting married is to be admired. And the guy that ~does~ win her affections has reason to be proud. He wasn't the one she "settled for" - he was the one she was waiting for.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is far better to be alone than to be with the wrong person.
Life seriously sucks worse when you're with someone who thinks they're doing ~you~ a favor by being with you.
You tell 'em, Ruthy! Those people... I just feel sorry for them, honestly. None of them seem to consider what happens when a woman doesn't find the right guy at age 17 - a lot of them seem to be angry that women have jobs and aren't just sitting at home waiting for them to finish sowing wild oats and come calling.
Those threads used to make me angry. Now they just make me sad that there are such stupid people out there.