In dating, we often preference who we choose as romantic partners. How tall or short they are, what job occupation they hold, or if they treat their mother with respect. Our preferences include being fussy about hair colour, build and whether or not they lack empathy. We like to visualise our perfect man or woman but rarely know what kind of individual to seek. But how does age factor into the mix when looking for the ideal partner? And what age ceiling is the limit when considering someone who may be from a generation wildly different to you?
Dating an older man as a younger woman is often met with raised eyebrows and social disapproval. Negative stereotypes such as the infamous name 'silver fox'; can be tied to an older man who may have had unfortunate circumstances that have led to him becoming single in the prime of his life. These cliches can hold prejudice which prevents us from being optimistic and open-minded when dating. Despite backlash from society, there can be many advantages to dating an older man. Older men have had time to invest their wealth, travel broadly and achieve the goals they would've made in their early twenties. There is a higher likelihood that they'd be better at sex and be successful at diverse communication, all learnt from past experiences. Dating a younger woman can be reminiscent for an older man to be in touch with their youth, feelings of having fun and an endless road of opportunities. Older men can supply security and be a comfortable safety net for younger women and possibly a higher payoff at the end of the road. But, arguably, there are reasons why we stay single, but can an older man hold on to baggage from past mistakes or be considered a liability?
On the other hand, dating someone your age or the very least similar can be an entirely alternate experience. The natural attraction to dating someone your age can be that you have someone to relate to and grow up together. Real-life issues such as finding the career you're after, emotional struggles and the fact that you and your parents don't see eye to eye can all be more relatable to go through with someone close to your age. Dating someone from your generation means your cultural norms are similar and that you find resemblances between your friend groups. And going through troublesome times and similar problems can ultimately bring a couple closer together.
But whatever the age, no age is, by definition, the magic number to solve your relationship problems. Emotional intelligence, honesty and openness are found within all ranges of ages, not just older ones. But in 2022, where dates are more like interviews than casual meetings. There is pressure to be perfect in multiple categories, and age can be a deal-breaker depending on where you are in life. Someone approaching the age of thirty can have particular goals ticked off and passed milestones in their achievements. Whereas someone in their early twenties has only just written down and visualised these goals. Whoever we date, younger or older, there will always be a cloud of 'could this work out?' and 'you never know' because you never really know that this one could be the one.
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