Actually HollyBlue isn't so far from the truth. In a few cultures around the world, very few, there were situations due to pressure caused by geography or society that formed some matrilinear cultures, that also allowed a good degree of choice for women. Usually fishing villages that were small, where the men had to fish for a good number of months for example. Well eventualy all property rights and issues of that nature were controlled by women, and men were there for selected by women to be part of the household. Also it was common for certain females to have more than one male join her in the family, not preferred but did happen often enough to verify HollyBlue's argument. And I'm sure there are probably other examples from other situations. I was in Oxajaca (sorry about the spelling) once, and I stopped in one of the few matrilinear societies that still exist today. Not so matrilinear anymore though, but you could still see the vestiges of the 'old way' around. The way the women were, the way certain art was on the walls of the hotels, which were still owned and run by women. Interesting. I'm sure they must have had a harem or two in their day. I think the place was called Salina Cruz in Mexico.
As for HollyBlue comment about me not meeting the right 17year old, well she's definitely right about that. But hey I'm not 17 anymore, so I guess I missed that boat. But yeah, I never said older guys were worse off, we just do things differently. Hey being a 17 year old jackrabbit isn't all that great, sometimes all you come home with is a worn out tool. However I remember being a jackrabbit, and I certainly didn't remember any one of my experiences keeping up with that. Still this is life, and everyone stands to be corrected just by going in the next door.