Re: who matures faster women or men

Jose:  Your question is pretty general, so I will answer it generally too! 
 Women seem to develop physically earlier than do men.  A girl usually has 
her epiphyseal plates (the last cartilage left for growth) completely 
ossify (turn to bone)sooner, usually about 17-18 yrs.  This means that she 
cannot grow any taller after that.  Boys usually reach their total height 
at 21 - 22 yrs.  Sexually, girls usually mature sooner also.  This is due 
to the maturing aspects of estrogen, a main sex hormone of women.  
Menstruation is a sign of this and girls are beginning this process earlier 
& earlier, not just in the U.S.A. but world wide.  The reasons for this are 
not well known.  Mentally, the opinions of "experts" vary but generally 
favor women also, although it depends on the type of skill that is being 
compared.  Girls, for example, are better in math until around high school, 
and then boys are better.  This is a big generalization and may have more 
to do with cultural aspects than it has to do with maturation.  Mental 
maturation is more complicated than is physical maturation.  I hope this 
"general" answer helps you.  j. Bridger