but your original thread raises some interesting points. Perhaps in retrospect, if you had known you would get so much flak, you might have reworded it.
It seems to me, in the past, the so-called family unit prevailed, and yes, people chose to get married then have children, in that order (and all the other traditional stuff you mention). That's exactly what I did - went to uni, travelled, got married, travelled some more, had a child and a career running alongside.
Looking back, there seemed to be more stability in family life, fewer problems in society. I must admit I think lots of problems in society are caused by lack of stability in children's lives.
However, I think I'm just one of the fortunate few who thought I had a plan, an ideal of how my life would pan out, and so it has, I realise I'm fortunate (depends how you look at it). I met the right person at the right time, I had educational opportunities straight from school.
I think the crux is that women today have choices that my grandmother's generation never had. She raised four children in a traditional familiy unit. Those children grew up with manners, yes, respect, yes. They had no problems. But my grandma was stuck in a marriage with a man who treated her like dirt. She had no chance of education so couldn't get out and support herself. She was only really free when he died.
I think if you asked most 16 ear old girls (and think of yourself at 16), what they would like their lives to look like, they would envisage a fulfulling relationship, kids, perhaps an education, a job or neither. The point is, they picture an ideal and it doesn't always work out that way, for all sorts of reasons. That's not to say it isn't what they would have wanted for themselves.
I think you need to look at this from both sides. The original post does raise valid points, even if the wording wasn't ideal. On the one hand, I admire women who get an education later in life (how hard must that be? what stamina!), who get out of bad relationships, who stand up for what they want and live life how they see fit. It's none of my business what other people do.
On the other hand, I do feel I've come up against a certain amount of resentment from women whose lives didn't work out quite as they envisaged, cos on the surface, mine did. There's definitely an element of "it's alright for you" involved. I think if you question some of them, they will admit that life isn't how they wanted it, things weren't necessarily in the ideal order, but if it's working for them, we have no right to judge.