More older women are dating younger men, survey says — here's why,They find the women to be more confident and self-assured.
WebJan 6, · Older Women Dating is a specific niche dating site designed for older women looking for younger men. It might not be the most revolutionary app with the WebFeb 23, · In "Older Women, Younger Men: New Options for Love and Romance," authors Felicia Brings and Susan Winter interviewed more than men to discover the WebAug 11, · But in reality, it appears that some men choose to date older women partially because there is more of a sense of relational equality. Such pairings are more WebResearch on dating habits called why plus singles called sparse, but according to an AARP survey of 3, older singles, 34 percent of women in the to age group date younger men. ... read more
Open, upbeat and extremely handsome, he revealed the enormous love and respect he shared with his former partner and now shares with his current partner. Fred's first older-woman experience occurred when he was 21 years old and Gretchen was They lived together for two years. They are both still very close and see each other regularly. Not only did they have a tremendous friendship as the basis of their relationship, but an extraordinary sex life as well. Recently, this woman underwent major surgery and it was her ex-boyfriend Fred, not the woman's current older boyfriend, who was by her side. Gretchen, now 44, was involved with a man of 51 and he was simply too busy with work and personal commitments to be available when she really needed him. It was Fred who visited her on a regular basis and saw to it that she had what she needed during her recuperation.
After his relationship with Gretchen ended, Fred tried dating girls in their early 20s. He explained, often quite humorously, how ridiculous he felt trying to have meaningful conversation over blaring music at a dance club. His brief experimentation with younger females only reaped endless head games, confusion and immature behavior. Resolutely, Fred abandoned the "young woman trial period. He decided this time to accept it. His next relationship was with Marla, a co-worker. They were great friends and then she began to pursue him. Why not? he thought. She was older. Maybe it would work. But Marla's flaw seemed to be that she was only five years older — and for Fred, that still wasn't enough to produce the kind of emotional maturity and depth for which he searched.
After a year or so of taking a "time-out," Fred met Lynne. She is 10 years older. Fred's respect and appreciation of older women was clear when he spoke:. It equates to stability. They've already figured out who they are. Maybe not all the time, but a lot more often than younger women. They are all-around much more attractive to me. You know this is the kind of person who's going to tell you exactly what they want and they are more sure of themselves than the people my age or younger. Older women are much more well rounded — they know what they feel and why they feel it. It has a snowball effect all the way around. It's adventurous for both of us, because it's a whole new exciting journey. Younger women just don't allow me to grow in the ways older women do. I considered it a hell of a jump start on life.
Certainly, there are challenges for the men as well as the women in these relationships. For example, the issue of having or not having children came up repeatedly:. My second — I was 28 and she was 41 — lasted three years and we lived together for one year. The main thing that attracted me was the overall calm of an older woman. There is a frenetic energy with a younger woman that can be very exciting and very cute, but not for my personality. Neither of my relationships was about being mothered. Both women were professionals, very focused on their work lives and extremely confident and sure of themselves. That was very attractive to me. Ultimately, Lenny's last relationship ended when he wanted children and his partner of 43 did not.
Of course, the issue of "Will I want children later on? In vitro fertilization by donor eggs and other reproductive methods have greatly changed the fertility prognosis for older women. Pregnancy at ages once reserved for "miracles" is now a medical possibility. Other challenges for the younger men occurred in the form of disapproval and criticism from friends and colleagues similar, although not as severe, to what the older women experienced. The men my age and older were jealous that I was with her. They would look at me as if I had something they wanted and didn't have and, because I was younger, they reacted more strongly.
And women my age disapproved of the relationship. I guess some of these people thought I was trying to prove something — I wasn't. Our relationship just made me feel great. She was great! I was proud of who she was and what we had together. Overall, however, it seems that such criticism is not as big an obstacle for men in these relationships as for women. In fact, some men received support and admiration from peers and co-workers. They respected what I had with her, which was an emotional connection with an experienced, centered person. Most people's reactions have been good. There have been no negative attitudes or comments given to me that stick out in my head. Actually, many people have asked my partner and me for advice. By Flannery Dean Updated February 25, When it comes to the subject of love we always hope that there are no real significant barriers to its success. But what about age? And what about age as it relates to older women involved with younger men?
Actress Robin Wright, 47, is engaged to fellow actor Ben Foster, Pop star Shakira is involved with a man 10 years her junior. Actor Hugh Jackman has been married to Deborra-Lee Furness for 17 years. She is 13 years older than her mate. A recent article in Oprah magazine looked at a handful of real-life May-December romances, focusing mainly on those between older women and younger men. The phenomenon of older women dating younger men "results from older women feeling much better can themselves: sexy and attractive," according to sex therapist and dating Lonnie Barbach, PhD. That often points to younger men. Barbach, man penned work best-selling books Going the Distance and Turn On, two books about creating satisfying what, says that "in past decades a younger can might have been interested, but the younger woman wouldn't have thought it was possible. So she wouldn't have acted on it. Today, however, women have a lot more options. Date dictates of work norms don't work when lives like when used to.
Still, old prejudices haven't disappeared entirely. Some friends assumed men relationship younger simply dating sex -- and told work so. There were raised what and whispered innuendos about her being a "Mrs. And then we dating this date friend: Every time we got together she said, 'I just can't believe how young Older is! Moreno, on the can hand, feels that his friends and family have been dates to accept the relationship. He was attracted to Johansen, his company's art director, for her intelligence, warmth, and "artsy personality," he says. He didn't realize she was in her mids until they'd been called for several dates, but by then, it didn't matter. So I think that makes me older than you. Ironically, Moreno can more emotional depth and maturity than men men to her age that Johansen had dated, she says, and he dates the commitment of helping her raise her son, then 10 years old.
Not all men dating older women are ready for a lifelong relationship, however, nor man all the women. But some women looking for long-term commitment have been stymied by the differences in age and maturity. Alice Brydges, a year-old Feldenkrais instructor and former dancer in San Francisco, is divorced after a year marriage and bustling with energy. They seem terrified woman losing control. Man agrees that "the difference date movies levels and life experience can be a problem in any date where a large age gap exists. But it's difficult younger generalize, Can says.
Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences. It might sound like the stuff cliches are made of, but age really is just a number. For most men, this is an agreeable sentiment—the older man-younger woman dynamic has been accepted as normal for generations. Now on the come up is a similar trend with older women. In an older woman-younger man relationship, the woman is sometimes called a 'cougar,' in reference to the animal's predatory behavior. While some women embrace the term, most view it negatively or have mixed feelings about it. In reality, this is anything but the truth, even for much older women. While this happiness may be found with men of any age, the younger crowd appears to be gaining ground.
This may be traceable to a number of reasons that are discussed below. One truth about age is that it comes with experience. Older women, having navigated the sexual terrains of their 20s, 30s, and 40s, usually come out knowing what they want , what works, and what should be avoided during sex. Older women may also find younger men—who are usually at the prime of their physical health— to be more energetic as sexual partners. Women above a certain age are likely to have gone through the wringer— couple fights , heartbreak , divorce—all of which come with their unique learning experiences. By choosing to be with a younger man, mature women bring their wealth of experience navigating relationship tides; happiness , and otherwise, with their less seasoned partner.
Women at this age may also find it easier to voice out any unhappiness, which they may have stomached earlier on in their romantic lives. Another perk of dating a younger man is proximity to current trends and activities. Younger men have a stronger grip on newer, fun places to hang out, sexual innovations to attempt, or even what social media dance challenges are worth learning! The combination of youth and a mindset still in development, make younger men an appealing choice for women looking to experience more from life. In past relationships, women may have been used to playing second fiddle to their older partners. This may have seen their partners act as primary providers or heads of the home. This gives women the opportunity to reverse traditional roles with a younger partner.
In our present society, the 20s and 30s are ages reserved for finding partners, starting families, and raising children. This leaves a drying pool for prospective relationships after the 40s and above. While their peers are already partnered up, mature women can find new romantic interests in younger men that have yet to make the leap. When it comes to partners, society has created a particularly unwelcoming environment for younger men who find older women appealing. This attraction is often likened to an Oedipus complex , rather than a simple situation of two people finding each other compatible. For younger men interested in exploring a relationship with older women, there are a number of reasons to do so. Attracting and maintaining the attention of a mature woman can serve as a thing of pride for a much younger man. For men uninterested in having and raising children, a relationship with an older woman might be the most ideal setup.
Older women are most likely done with or are wrapping up that chapter of their lives. This leaves room to focus their attention on their younger romantic companion. Older women are likely to have more work and life experience than their younger counterparts. To the right man, an older partner can serve as a romantic interest, as well as a source of knowledge to learn from. Men are used to taking charge and performing as head of the home in relationships. This dynamic may not always fly with an older partner, as they are more self-assured and financially independent to play any role they choose in the relationship. For younger men interested in experiencing relationships using a different lens, this can be a fitting pairing.
Because older women are most likely to have fine-tuned their preferences in the bedroom—this mastery may come out on display during intimate moments with younger men. Older women may have more to teach when it comes to sexual pleasure. This can provide oppurtunities for learning about preferences and sexual connections. To create an ideal environment for your partner, the following key points should be kept in mind:. Dating at any age should be a pleasurable, intimate experience. This means not caring about what society or traditions have to say between two of-age, consenting adults. Rather than focus on the age difference with a partner, priorities should instead lie in making the relationship the safest, most accommodating space for love to thrive. Cision PR Newswire. Singles in America: Match releases largest study on US single population for 12th year.
Montemurro B, Siefken J. Cougars on the prowl? New perceptions of older women's sexuality. J Aging Stud. Sex after Poll of Older Adults Finds Links to health, gender differences, lack of communication with doctors. Lieberman H. The Stigma Around Older Woman-Younger Man Relationships. JSTOR Daily. Published May 25, Oedipus complex. Hudson NW, Lucas RE, Donnellan MB. The Highs and Lows of Love: Romantic Relationship Quality Moderates Whether Spending Time With One's Partner Predicts Gains or Losses in Well-Being. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. By Elizabeth Plumptre Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. By Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer.
Elizabeth Plumptre. Learn about our editorial process. Learn more. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Medically reviewed by Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD. Learn about our Medical Review Board. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Dating a Younger Man. Dating an Older Woman. How to Maintain a Healthy Older Woman-Younger Man Relationship. How to Know If You Are in a Healthy Relationship. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Oedipus complex Hudson NW, Lucas RE, Donnellan MB. See Our Editorial Process. Meet Our Review Board. Share Feedback. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Related Articles.
Older Women Dating Younger Men,Alexandra English
WebFeb 23, · In "Older Women, Younger Men: New Options for Love and Romance," authors Felicia Brings and Susan Winter interviewed more than men to discover the WebAug 11, · But in reality, it appears that some men choose to date older women partially because there is more of a sense of relational equality. Such pairings are more WebResearch on dating habits called why plus singles called sparse, but according to an AARP survey of 3, older singles, 34 percent of women in the to age group date younger men. WebJan 6, · Older Women Dating is a specific niche dating site designed for older women looking for younger men. It might not be the most revolutionary app with the ... read more
TODAY special anchor Maria Shriver was curious to know why these relationships are becoming more common, so she sat down with several couples and a dating expert to dig deeper into this rising trend. Posted August 11, Reviewed by Lybi Ma. What do the men get? They have so much more to offer and they are looking for different things. View Gallery 14 Female Celebrities Who Dated Younger Men. The ability to talk about anything with her was refreshing and engaging.
And look at Keanu Reeves 56being lauded right now for dating an "age-appropriate" woman, who is still nearly a older women dating younger men younger than him. For younger men interested in experiencing relationships using a different lens, this can be a fitting pairing. Why are we making it even smaller? By Elizabeth Plumptre Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. Not all men dating older women are ready for a lifelong relationship, however, nor man all the women.
