Older Women & Younger Men

It started off slowly in the 80′s with 40 year old Cher creating a minor scandal dating a 22 year old.  It became more visible with Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins’ long term relationship (Susan is 12 years older).

By the time Cameron Diaz and Justin got together (Cameron is nine years older), Madonna Married and Divorced Guy (she’s ten years older), and Demi -- the reigning Queen of all May-December Romances – started dating her younger-by-fifteen-years Husband, Ashton, the ‘Older Woman – Younger Man’ phenomenon was in full swing.

So why has this become so commonplace?  Is this here to stay, or just a fad that will fall along the wayside like the Rubik’s Cube?

At first I thought this was simply a trend, and men would soon revert back to stereotypical ways of ogling 16 year old Cashiers behind the counter at White Castle, threatening to doom single women over the age of 30 to a life of Danielle Steele novels and a collection of 43 cats.

After all, isn’t that what our mothers’ Generation taught us…all men want younger women?

Since I’m in a relationship with someone thirteen years younger than me, I found the possibility of being the equivalent of a Tamagotchi somewhat annoying.

After talking with many male friends and reading multiple articles by men, the common thread as to why men have a thing for older women generally boiled down to this….less drama.

However, since older women have always been lower on the drama scale, that didn’t answer my primary question….

Why now?

What’s changed in the last ten years, resulting in men being open to the idea of dating and marrying women a decade or more older than themselves, while 20 years ago it was a far less commonplace event?

Then I saw something, and it suddenly made sense.

I saw an interview with Steve Santagati.  When Steve (plus Mario Lopez and some random sports figure) were asked what kind of women men want, the answer was, “Guys want a woman who looks 25 but has the mind of a 40 year old.”.

When I first heard that, I thought it was completely piggish.  But then I thought about it, and it explains why many men are now into the idea of older women.

Women are looking better and hotter much later in life than previous Generations. Would many men really care Halle Berry is 43 years old?  I’m pretty sure her 32 year old Model boyfriend doesn’t give a damn…but I digress.

What I’m saying is with lots of older women, men are now getting the best of both worlds.  A woman who knows who she is, has an established career….plus she still has a great butt and face to go with it.

Sounds pretty good to me.  Now if we can only make older men as cool as older women….

Disclaimer: I know there are plenty of 25 year old women who have all of those things going for them as well, so I’m definitely not bashing anyone 

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Ann currently works for a Fortune 50 company as a Global Project Manager, and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology / Communications and Human Relations.  She lives in Connecticut with her boyfriend and two adorable dogs.

Keeping in line with the topic, her very lucky boyfriend, Vince, is below.