Falling in love with a woman 10, 15, 20 years older, or more can be exhilarating. These so-called age-gap relationships with the woman as the senior partner are more accepted now than in previous times, some observers say. Even so, making the relationship last involves tackling some thorny -- and sensitive -- issues.
Age should not be a barrier to love and companionship. There is no reason why a relationship between an older woman and younger man cannot work long term, provided both partners are committed and willing to put in the work.
The truth is, there is no ideal or appropriate age gap in a relationship. Whether it's a 20 year age gap relationship or a 5 year age gap relationship, there will be both challenges and benefits to your situation.
Studies have found partners with more than a ten-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.
Gerontophilia is the primary sexual attraction to the elderly. A person with such a sexual preference is a gerontophile or gerontosexual. The word gerontophilia was coined in 1901 by psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing. It derives from Greek: geron, meaning "old person" and philia, meaning "friendship".
Some conveyed that the attention of an older woman boosted their own level of confidence and self-esteem. Others recognized that older women have more life experience, emotionally stability, grounding, and can offer both honesty and different perspectives.
Why younger men are attracted to older women includes their experience, confidence, assertiveness, and maturity. A few years younger than a woman will likely find her life experience intriguing; he wants to learn about her and her life experience.
Studies have found partners with more than a 10-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.
Couples with an age gap of 1 to 3 years (with the man older than the woman) were the most common and had the greatest levels of satisfaction. Relationship satisfaction decreased slightly for couples with age gaps of 4 to 6 years and continued to decrease for couples with an age gap of 7 or more years.
If you and your partner are willing to put the work in, you can make age gap relationships thrive. Many couples have great success in age gap relationships, but for others, it requires work.
The dating age rule to determining a socially acceptable age difference in partners goes something like this: half your age plus seven (40 = 20 +7 = 27) to define the minimum age of a partner and your age minus seven times two (40 = 33 * 2 = 60) to define the maximum age of a partner.
It has been found6 that people in age-gap relationships live longer. This is potentially due to differential fertility, the ability of the younger partner to care for the older partner into old age and economic security.
Potential downsides of dating older women
She may be more mature than you — she may act like your mother if you're not emotionally mature. That's not healthy. She may have lots of baggage — the older you get, the more baggage you accumulate.
Regardless of the age gap, marrying an older woman can bring you many benefits, not least because old women tend to be more self-aware, confident, clearer about what they want and more emotionally stable.
How important is age in a relationship? Generally, age isn't as important as other compatibility factors. Age is only one aspect of your relationship—other things like life goals, wanting or not wanting children, having the same values, and respecting each other are much more important than your age.
Well, according to a study of age gaps and marital satisfaction, the larger the age gap between the two members of a couple, the more dissatisfaction is reported. That's not to say it isn't possible to have a healthy relationship with a significant age gap, but it is certainly more challenging.
Is a 15-year age difference too much? Not necessarily. If you and your partner have shared interests and similar goals, treat each other with kindness and respect, and enjoy your relationship, then don't let age get in the way of things!
Relationships with a big age gap can work if you're willing to put the effort in. There are times when they can seem more difficult because of generational differences; so, it's important to common interests and goals. If your values are aligned, it doesn't really matter if there is a large age gap.
Ask a flirty question.
Older women might be a little more guarded than younger women so flirt with her to break through her defenses. Text her something cute, fun, or naughty to see how she responds. Try something innocent like, “Why are you so cute?” or “How are you so perfect?”
It's based on US survey of 2,000 people has found. The study, carried out by Allure magazine, found women are considered most beautiful at 30, show signs of ageing at 41, stop looking 'sexy' at 53 and are thought of as 'old' at 55.
"Faithfulness, supportiveness and reliability are therefore traits that older men feel more attracted to, as opposed to being attracted to unpredictability and adventure." This doesn't mean that men in their later years don't want to have fun, but their priorities are just different and more mature than when they are ...
They want someone who's also independent. They want a woman who can support herself. Such a woman is responsible and trustworthy, because she can take care of herself just fine. Most mature men want a partner in life, and not someone who they need to feed, house, and support with money.