Does an age difference matters in a relationship?

  1. Age Disparity in Sexual Relationships
  2. Does an age difference matter in relationships?
  3. Reasons for the age disparity
  4. The influence of society on age gap relationships
  5. Age differences in homosexual romantic relationships
  6. The dark side of age-gap relationships
  7. Things to know about dating someone older
  8. Cross-cultural differences
  9. Which ages are the most attractive?
  10. Conclusion

Dating an older man or woman, or starting a relationship with a partner much younger than you, is perfectly normal. There are partners across the world with a significant age gap between them, and it hasn’t stopped them from finding love.

Any relationship where there is an age difference needs working. But that is no different from a partnership between lovers of a similar age. It is all about the bond you create because, as the old saying goes, age is just a number.

We’ve broken down some of the misconceptions surrounding age differences in relationships and answered questions that might arise if you considering dating sexy older women dating younger men, perhaps, or attractive men younger than you.

Does an age difference matter in relationships?

Enjoying a relationship where there is an age difference between you and your partner might be queried by friends or family, but the truth is you can’t help who you fall in love with or have feelings for. While a third of all married couples are aged within one year of each other, that’s two thirds that aren’t. One in ten partnerships has around 10 years of the average age difference between couples, proving that age doesn’t matter. It is all about the connection, not the year on your passport. Whether it is the man or the woman who is the younger of the two, age difference sex can be as explosive as in any relationship – even more so for the older partner.

Reasons for the age disparity

Couples get together because of a natural attraction, not always because they are closely matched in terms of age. There may be several age disparity reasons why you choose to have an older or younger partner by your side. Women mature earlier than men, so dating an older guy can often appeal. On the other hand, some may prefer to date a younger man or girl and to bounce off the more youthful energy they bring to a relationship. Alternatively, similar interests and hobbies may have brought you together, a connection may have started at work with a colleague you deal closely with, or you just may have thought they were younger than they are. There is no one particular answer to the question: what reasons for the age gap relationships people choose to have. Age disparity in marriage can happen for a huge variety of different reasons.

The influence of society on age gap relationships

Age difference relationships tend to be frowned upon by other members of the public, rather than friends and family. The latter will be happy to see you, and your partner, enjoying life together. It is the observations, comments and looks from other people that results in the questions over whether you are your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife are right for each other. They can be incredibly judgemental while doing it...and it can hurt too and make you question your own choice. But does society influence matter? If you are going to take to heart things they might say about age range couples, then the answer could be yes. If hearing things like “why is that young girl with him?” or “that older woman shouldn’t be dating a young guy” makes you question your relationship, then perhaps you share the same doubts that society may have. If such comments don’t register with you one iota, your age difference relationship is one that could flourish for years to come. Times have changed, and society needs to realize that age gap love exists in modern-day relationships.

Age differences in homosexual romantic relationships

Age-gap relationships are also very prevalent when it comes to homosexual partnerships. You are quite likely to see gay and lesbian romantic relationships between people of different age groups. They are known as intergenerational relationships because age differences can be as big as 30 or more years between partners, particularly males. Older gay men and often attractive to younger members of the LBGTQ community, with hot older men a real turn on for some seeking gay relationships. The two attractive women involved in lesbian relationships tend to be closer in age and less likely to have that wide age gap, although that doesn’t mean there are not older women dating younger girls.

The dark side of age-gap relationships

Can age gap relationships work? Of course, they can, and there are endless stories of success. But as we touched upon earlier, couples with gaps between in age sometimes have to work harder to overcome the potential problems that the difference may cause. Age gap relationship problems will exist because each partner will be at different stages of their life – be that their social habits, their career and even whether or not they want to get married or have children. That is where dating age rules must come into the relationship and be something both parties agree to abide by. Only by ironing out the potential problems can love truly blossom. If the younger partner wants to spend the night out with friends of their age, let them. If the older partner isn’t interested in doing something a little reckless, don’t force them. There has to be given and take in any relationship and even more so in ones with age differences.

Things to know about dating someone older

You’ve connected with beautiful older women or are about to start dating an older man. But what do you need to know to ensure you are fully sure you are ready to be taking the next step in dating someone older? The benefits of dating an older man could the fact he has everything in his life in order with a career, own home and a nice car. The same applies to date and enjoying sex with older women, who can provide a stable relationship and lifestyle you are looking for. There’s a certain reassurance about dating someone older, not because they can be a father figure or a mothering partner, but more for the fact they have lived life and have experienced much of what you are about to encounter. They have knowledge and wisdom to pass on and you can learn a lot from being with them and building up a friendship as well as sexual relationships.

Cross-cultural differences

Of course, age differences in relationships and marriages are more common in some countries and religions more than others. You will find the marriage age gap by country differs from continent to continent, with cultural disparity an important factor. In the United Arab Emirates, for example, where men are permitted to have more than one wife, he would typically have marriages with women spanning different ages. Western African countries, particularly those where Islam is among the religions practiced, also have some of the biggest age differences between partners.

Which ages are the most attractive?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for that very reason, there is no way of saying what age is the most attractive. What we can say is that younger men tend to date hot older women in their 40s, beautiful women who have a healthy sexual appetite and incredible looks. The George Clooney factor, meanwhile, has shifted what do women find attractive. Good looking men in their 40s or 50s with grey hair are now a sought-after commodity for younger women seeking older partners. It is the 40s and the early 50s age range that younger people are most attracted to in age gap relationships, particularly as sexual desires are still at their highest at that age of life before medical natures take over and the libido and sex drive diminishes. That typically happens in the late 50s and 60s for men as testosterone levels fall, while it is earlier in women – starting in the late 40s and early 50s.

Conclusion:

Age-gap relationships are more popular than you might think. There are couples across the world enjoying partnerships, and very successful ones at that, with people of much different age. There can be 5, 10, 15 and even 30 or more years of difference – but that figure doesn’t matter one little bit. It is all about finding love with the right person and age doesn’t have to come into it. Meeting and dating a woman much older than you can have serious benefits on the sexual front with ladies in their 40s some of the most active of all as they live the finest years of their life. Settling down with a man in his 40s or 50s is equally likely, not because you want a sugar daddy but because you like the maturity, compassion and loving side of a man of that age. If you are attracted to someone, don’t think about their age…think about what they bring to your life. Age difference relationships work for a variety of different reasons, so don’t let prejudice from society’s mind put you off dating a younger or older partner.

Author: Adam Williams

Author: Adam Williams

Adam Williams is a recognized dating and relationship expert. Working in the field of online dating and having a degree in Psychology, Adam was always interested in helping people with their relationships. He loves seeing happy couples and felling that he was the one to help them build their happiness. Adam is always happy to share his experience and running a blog on our website.