Would you date someone 20 years your junior?
Since Stephen Fry has married someone 30 years younger than him, comedian Elliot Spencer- it has sparked the question- does age really matter when it comes to love? Clearly he doesn’t think so but what about the rest of us?
It worked for Celine Dion and Rene Algelil but not so much for Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore- but is it practical for non-celebs?
Elite Singles have investigated people’s attitudes towards age differences potential partners to gauge if it really affects dating choices.
Despite the common misconception that men always seek someone who is youthful- the research suggests that this is not always the case. In fact many men prefer someone older and like to play up to the toy boy role especially those aged 20-29- The Graduate being the perfect example of this.
For those who stay true to the stereotype- men aged 60-69 prefer a woman who is up to 11 years younger than them and they would not go above one year older, even if the woman was really special.
Elite Singles Partner Psychologist Sam Owen believes that ‘’the finding that men aged 20-29 prefer older women rather than the suspected “younger model” is likely indicative of the change in gender roles in modern society towards more equality between the sexes. Young men nowadays probably also recognise that older women are adept at diligently juggling so many responsibilities (career, children, housekeeping, fitness, finances, socialising), which makes them intriguing and attractive and a more secure option.’’
Women are not as wiling to play the cougar role as the men desire- with most women feeling more comfortable if they are the younger one in the partnership. Women over 50 look for someone who is 6 years their senior and anyone that is 5 years their junior is thought to be too young.
One woman said- ‘My husband is one year younger than me but when I compare him to his friends there is a huge gap in maturity- he wants things that I know they are not ready for- it is all dependent on the couple and if their aspirations match- not about age.’
Younger women also share the attitude of wanting someone older- for 20-29 year olds- they look for someone who is up to 10 years older, 30-39 want a man who is 8 years older and 20-29 want their men to be no more than 3 years younger if they were to go in the opposite direction.
Another woman said- ‘I dated someone who was 6 years my senior and perversely I was ready for kids and marriage and he was not interested then nor would he ever be- age is never an indicator of future goals.’
So perhaps it is less about age and more about communication and compatibility. By judging someone on their age, just as you might on their height, appearance and occupation; you could be missing out on the love of your life.
tagged in Ashton Kutcher Celine Dion Demi Moore Stephen Fry dating