WHY DO OLDER MEN LIKE YOUNGER WOMEN?

 

Occasionally I come across social media comments or videos of people saying that an older man who is romantically attracted to, and wants to marry, a young woman in her teens or twenties is a pedophile. Think: Pedophilia is sexual attraction to prepubescent children, so why would someone assume that a pedophile wants to marry a young woman in her teens or twenties?

Over the years and decades of my life I have observed May-December marriages that were obvious nightmares and others that were enviable. I am not condemning or promoting this, nor am I denying that there are cautions and concerns to consider, I am merely disputing a stereotype.

Public prejudice against age-gap relationships and older men attracted to younger women is often because of negative stereotypes and misconceptions. The influence of negative portrayals and descriptions of age-gap relationships and older men attracted to younger women via television, movies, books, and magazines is a big factor.

While there might be exceptions, older men do not date and marry younger women because they want someone who is easily manipulated or controlled. The main appeal of young women is the assumption that there is less likelihood of emotional baggage and a high body count, and that younger women are more open minded and not usually judgmental or argumentative. Many older men seek younger women for shared life experiences and emotional maturity and not just physical appeal. Also, a typical working man inevitably comes across A LOT of "grown" women (even middle-aged and older) that are big babies who never grew up (and are abrasive, bitter, entitled, etc.), and this can make anyone wonder why a young woman's age is an issue to anyone.