Yup. Age IS a number.
Unfortunately, what has been expected of different ages during different eras has changed drastically.
If you want to use the past as an example--500 years ago, women were married as early as 7 or 8, and lost their virginity immediately following their first menstrual cycle. NOBODY got divorced back then. Does that mean all of our 9 year old girls should be getting married?
YES, getting married young can work--my parents were married 2 days after my dad turned 19, and 3 days after my mom turned 16. That was the soonest they could marry. My mom was 6 months pregnant with me at the time. My parents have dodged all of the odds about those situations--BUT THEY ARE IN A MINORITY!
As far as an age gap... my husband is 5 years older than I am, and the next closest person to me in my life is 8 years younger than I am. The difference is that I met my husband when I was 21, and had learned a little bit about who I am. A 15 year old doesn't have a CLUE who they are yet, because they haven't been given the chance to learn that yet, not with ALL of the societal ramifications.
As far as fighting for what you love--you have to do that at any age. There is always SOMEONE in your life who doesn't approve of who you love/date/marry, based on all manner of ridiculous things--including age.
And as far as having a career before a family---you're damned straight you ought to. If you can't support yourself, you have no business getting involved with someone else. Then the relationship is at least partially dependent on money from the beginning, and who would want someone to stay with them because they HAD to?
To the OP--if you think you can do it legally, and you're both absolutely sure that's what you want, then go for it. But you're going to have a long hard road in front of you. Good luck with it!
