Yes, a younger man falling for an older woman is more common than many think. There are many reasons why younger men fall for older women, but most commonly, he admires her maturity and experience associated with being an older person.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with dating even much younger men, flirting, and enjoying their attention. Some young men just prefer older women. They may value your experience and self-confidence. They may feel wired that way, sometimes because of delightful early experiences with older women.
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.
Since 2005, when Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher popularized the relationship of an older woman and a younger man, it seems the U.S. has become obsessed with calling women cougars and that popular culture is capitalizing on the slang.
Men who are attracted to older women are often emotionally intelligent and are able to navigate complex emotions and relationships with ease. They are able to empathise with others and are sensitive to their needs and feelings. They can understand emotions very well without being too critical.
In short, research seems to indicate that in many cultures, an age gap of 1 to 3 years is considered ideal — but some researchers suggest even a relationship with an age gap of less than 10 years will bring more satisfaction.
"Half-your-age-plus-seven" rule
An often-asserted rule of thumb to determine whether an age difference is socially acceptable holds that a person should never date someone whose age is less than half their own plus seven years.
The cougar concept has been increasingly used in television shows, advertising, and film. The 2007 film Cougar Club was dedicated to the subject and, in spring 2009, TV Land aired a reality show called The Cougar where an older woman would pick a date from twenty younger men.
Cougar is the slang word for a mature woman in her 40s. It usually has the connotation that the woman in question is on the attractive side in spite of her age.
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.
Romantic couples with a large age gap often raise eyebrows. 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.
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.
Large age gaps are not easy but they are extremely rewarding both emotionally and physically. Yes, a man can truly love a much older woman in exactly the same way he would love a woman his same age.
What is the male equivalent of the female "cougar"? A manther — an older man who preys on women significantly younger than himself.
In the United States, "puma" has been used as slang for a cougar minus ten years; she is defined as a woman in her 30s who prefers dating younger men. Hollywood celebrity Jennifer Aniston has long been associated with the term due to her relationships with younger men, most notably John Mayer (nine years younger).
The word cougar is also a slang term for an older woman who dates much younger men. Even when it is meant to be a compliment, like any stereotype, cougar has the potential to offend — best to avoid.
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.
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.
Is it wrong to date someone 20 years younger than you? As long as you're both old enough to be consenting adults, it can only be wrong if you two think there's something wrong with it. Unless you have an issue with the dynamics of your relationship, there's no one else who can say what you're doing is wrong.
Research suggests that an age gap of 27 to 32 months may be associated with the best health outcomes for mother and child. In terms of sibling relationship, siblings who are closer in age tend to fight more but are also closer which may have positive benefits for social skills.
Yes, a younger man falling for an older woman is more common than many think. There are many reasons why younger men fall for older women, but most commonly, he admires her maturity and experience associated with being an older person.