• 200ok@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    What’s wild is that in 1880 it was probably ~14 yo girls and ~19 yo guys getting married.

    …And in 2022 it’s probably ~28 and ~30 year olds.

    • HelixDab2@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      Not so much. Even in the 1800s, it was unusual for girls to get married before they were 18 or so, and the average age for a first marriage was more like 23.

      The ‘14yo child getting married in the 1800s’ is the kind of thing that certain conservatives–esp. religious conservatives–like to claim in order to normalize creepy behavior. It happened then–and still happens now in some states!–but even at the time it was very abnormal.

    • BigLime@lemmy.ml
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      1 month ago

      my first partner was a few months older than me, and I always said I was gonna report them for abusing a minor (they were 18 and I was 17) and child grooming.

  • makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    I’m not American. However, my ex wife was 6 years older than me, and my now and forever wife is 5 years younger than me.

    I don’t know if that means anything, but, that 11 year age difference between them is real. They are literally from different generations in terms of their mentality, expectations, goals, etc.

    Has been interesting.

  • r_thndr@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 months ago

    I imagine a lot of this could be explained by population growth, and physical and social mobility. There are flat out more people around so it’s easier to find a partner you don’t hate. There are also more people who are socially acceptable and accessible.