The rise of older woman/younger man relationships has been treated by the media as some kind of recent trend. The women (aka “cougars”) chase after younger men and have no problems showing they’re energetic, sexual and assertive and want a man that matches that same youthful energy.
Signs of the growing phenomenon has been making huge splashes in popular culture. From 44-year-old Vivica Fox’s reality TV dating show called “The Cougar” about older women hooking up with younger guys, to Kim Cattrall‘s character on Sex and the City chasing after a young male. More recently, the movie The Proposal pairs 44-year-old Sandra Bullock with 32-year-old Ryan Reynolds.
But even with older woman/younger man pairings being treated as trendy, there’s really nothing new about the dynamic; it’s exactly the same as younger woman/older man relationships except less common and less accepted. Even the term “cougar” is a bit insulting, implying older women prey on young men like fresh meat. The word is used to make the older woman look desperate and pathetic, and it’s systematically implied that the actions of the women are gross and abnormal.
What do you guys think about “cougars” and older women dating younger men?
My wife is 5 years older than me…not a true cougar/young guy relationship, but since most of my peers married 5-10 years younger, my wife (by comparison) was really 10-15 years older than all my friends wives.
Early on, this didn’t make a difference. As she became older, it started to become more apparent. Her transition into menopause literally made her less of a sexual woman than in years past…we almost divorced. Then, we discovered a secret.
The secret was right under our noses and we worked VERY hard at refining it to the point where she now looks, acts, and BEHAVES like a sex-starved 28 year old. This rekindled not our our sex, but our intimacy, connection, friendship, romance, and love.
Yeah, the word “cougar” isn’t very nice. Men’s nicknames for women are always cat-like. We start off as cats/kittens and eventually become cougars apaprently. If people can make shows called “The Cougar” then how come we don’t have shows called “Rich Old Guy.” It’s a double standard that is just so unfair.
I’m not a “cougar” but I am, and have been, in love with a man 13 years younger than myself for the past five years. He and I have a wonderful relationship and I love him to pieces! Yes, we’re like everyone else….we have our good times and our bad times……..We are people. People that just happen to be 13 years apart in age.
As for the cougar term?? I like it. I think it’s funny. It doesn’t bother me at all. Why??? Because it gives us more to laugh about!