Man I didn't even notice that you'd written the article when I responded in part to your comment. *facepalm*
I thought two possible things might explain the 30s-as-old thing without it being Patriarchy At Work:
1) Reading your post as resisting the notion that the only kind of story women can have is a Coming-of-Age story or a romance (in which case having women in their 30s who are not doing either seems like it fits with a different category of protagonist)
2) Some fantasy novels are in settings where functionally 30 IS middle age, or the age by which some women are mothers several times over. I think of GRRM's novels, for instance, where you've got Catelyn whom I don't think is much over 30 but who has a much, much different story to her daughters, etc.
I do still think there's Patriarchy At Work, and didn't read every one of the comments, but thought this might be a potential other explanation.
no subject
I thought two possible things might explain the 30s-as-old thing without it being Patriarchy At Work:
1) Reading your post as resisting the notion that the only kind of story women can have is a Coming-of-Age story or a romance (in which case having women in their 30s who are not doing either seems like it fits with a different category of protagonist)
2) Some fantasy novels are in settings where functionally 30 IS middle age, or the age by which some women are mothers several times over. I think of GRRM's novels, for instance, where you've got Catelyn whom I don't think is much over 30 but who has a much, much different story to her daughters, etc.
I do still think there's Patriarchy At Work, and didn't read every one of the comments, but thought this might be a potential other explanation.