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Dear Poll: When The Roles Are Reversed, Does Age Still Matter?

Wed, 08/13/2008 - 12:00pm by DearSugar
463 Views - 21 comments

News of 39 year-old Rachel Hunter and 26 year-old Canadian ice hockey player Jarret Stoll's engagement has just hit the wire. While dating out of your age bracket is nothing new, the woman being the older part of the equation isn't as common. Though most of you feel a ten to 20 year age difference is too far of a gap, does your opinion change when it's the woman who's older? I know it's a double standard, but it just feels more scandalous when the man is dating a much younger woman. I could be way off on this one, so tell me, when the roles are reversed, does a big age difference still matter when it comes to relationships?

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21 Comments Add a Comment

  • Sun_Sun's picture
    Sun_Sun
    1

    my husband is 10 yrs older than me and we dont feel it at all. we're on the same page.
    but im guilty of having a double standard when the roles are reversed. i just feel like women in general are always more mature than men. i seem to picture she'd be like his mommy :S i mean obviously its not carved in stone, but it seems that way to me.
    i personally cannot imagine being with a guy my age or even 5 yrs older...they're all little boys to me, not MEN...but to each his own, no?

    14 weeks 3 hours ago Report Comment
  • brilliance13's picture
    brilliance13
    3

    I saw her getting off the same plane I was when I went to Hawaii in March. Even though she was a bit disheveled...you could tell she was someone famous, super tall! and I think her family/friends were with her but it looked a little bit like an entourage lol

    14 weeks 3 hours ago Report Comment
  • jessie's picture
    jessie
    4

    demi and ashton anyone? kim cattrell and the chef?(don't know his name) if it makes them happy...more power to them! Smiling

    14 weeks 3 hours ago Report Comment
  • pjamgrl's picture
    pjamgrl
    6

    Some younger people like to date older people, so it's not big deal. Yeah sure some of them might have daddy/mommy complexes, but who doesn't have some sort of complex?

    14 weeks 2 hours ago Report Comment
  • Melo D's picture
    Melo D
    7

    It doesn't matter who's older. It's weird to me. Personally, I'd prefer a man from 4 yrs older to 1 yr younger than me. Outside of that is just weird. Too much older and I feel like it's my brother. Too much younger and well, they're still a kid to me. The closer to thirty I get the more okay I'll be with going a little bit younger but until then... no. Lol. But if that's your cup of tea, more power to ya! Maybe I'll see it differently the older I get. Okay, I won't kid myself. Lol.

    14 weeks 2 hours ago Report Comment
  • Melo D's picture
    Melo D
    8

    Oh, I just thought about my girl who calls it the YBR. Young Boy Revolution. Lol. She loves it. Maybe there is something behind it. Hmmmmm. Lol.

    14 weeks 2 hours ago Report Comment
  • Frzkey's picture
    Frzkey
    9

    I think it depends on the couple. Up until recently I didn't realize that Brad was older than Angelina, nor did I care, they seem to fit so nicely together it didn't matter.

    Me I like dating younger men, but not that much younger! I find they're just too immature the younger I go. Less fun. More children surrogates I just don't want to deal with. But I don't fault older women for dating younger men. If they're compatible and enjoy each others company more power to them.

    On the other hand I have a 'friend' who's in his 40's and insists on dating girls 18 to 20. Though I'll admit he's such a child women his age refuse to give him the time of day somehow his mental age doesn't seem to make his age preferences any more palatable.

    14 weeks 2 hours ago Report Comment
  • sourcherry's picture
    sourcherry
    10

    I think it's all about women's empowerment in today's society. Men have been marrying much younger women for ages, why can't a woman marry a much younger man? It's something that was never seen in the past.

    So, I guess that's why people find much more acceptable. I confess that I'm guilty of thinking this way. Partly because of my inner feminist voice, and perhaps because I've never been attracted to much older men. I can see, however, the appeal of younger guys... Eye-wink lol

    Anyway, I think it's fine either way, as long as the couple is happy!

    14 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • kmh5424's picture
    kmh5424
    11

    I wonder what you would have to talk about with a huge age difference, say more than ten years or so. My ex is two years younger than me and seemed light years more immature and my boyfriend now is almost seven years older and we are definitely more on the same page.

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • sldc's picture
    sldc
    12

    I just hate it when people date people because of their age. Age is such a shallow trait to look for in a person.

    I think age difference is fine as long as people love each other and have a deep connection (not some creepy paternal/maternal relationship either!)

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • KimBurnett's picture
    KimBurnett
    14

    Rachel and I are the same age, and we both look fab; the 40's are going to be my best decade yet. A 26 yr. old man and a woman our age is perfect since we women age like fine wines. It's creepy with older man/younger woman b/c it's too patriarchal.

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Pallas Athena 's picture
    Pallas Athena
    15

    I think that age only matters if the person is dating someone who isn't of legal age or if someone hasn't reached the legal age, but dating someone that is older. I think that if both people are matured and don't mind doing some things over (one person may have already done it) and doesn't mind that fact that the younger person may not know everything that they have to do it can work. Love is all about sacrifice, loyalty, understanding, honesty, and trust.

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Silverlining10's picture
    Silverlining10
    17

    I think our culture tends to think women who date much older men are gold diggers, and men who date older women are looking for mommies. However, as long as the man or the woman isn't looking for a parent figure, financial security or looking to fulfill other insecurities, it's ALL GOOD. Age is just a number, right?

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • designerel's picture
    designerel
    18

    That's right, age is just a number. Though I seem to notice that older women and younger men are a lot more common these days! (Demi and Ashton, anyone?)

    I am with a guy who is 4 years younger, which majorly freaked me out in the beginning. Now I don't think anything of it. I think if I dated any younger I would have a hard time coping, as silly as it sounds.

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Isista's picture
    Isista
    20

    The only time I personally care is when one is underage. Then it's just illegal and I mean, if you really want to be with that person, I think you can wait until they are old enough. If they're happy, I may find it kind of odd, but who cares?

    13 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • kh61582's picture
    kh61582
    21

    I'm 22 and I have always exclusively liked older men. Guys my age are way too immature and frankly their stupid! I won't date a guy younger than 35 and to me even that's pushing it a little. Men in their 40s and 50s are the best. you get older than that and it's uncomfortable.
    I don't see what an older women would want with a younger man other than sex which can't make you happy forever. I guess the argument is that older men only want younger women for sex but I don't believe that's true. My ex (obviously much older than me) put it this way, older women come off as crazy and witchy. They don't know how to have fun anymore be it because life beat them down or too many men have hurt them. I personally don't blame older women for these supposed "issues" but I have it from multiple men that that's the reason for them turning to younger women.
    Given my preference for older men it would be wrong of me to say an older women with a younger man is wrong but I just can't see anything in it for the women other than sex and I don't respect that as a reason to get involved with someone.

    12 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment

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