Are Cougars a Myth or Reality?
Are “Cougars” a Myth or Reality? from Tesh.com
The cougar trend of older women dating much younger men has exploded. Now there are cougar conventions, cougar musicals, and even a TV show called “Cougar Town.†A new study says despite all the hype, the cougar is a media-invented myth. According to Time magazine, a study was conducted by psychology researcher Michael Dunn at the University of Wales Institute. He examined the age preferences of potential love interests in over 22,000 singles ads on dating websites around the world. The result? There wasn’t a surge of older women hunting for younger men. Instead, almost all of the women said they were looking for men their age or older. Most men on these dating sites were primarily looking for younger women, not older women.
Cougars and their supporters are clawing back. Rich Gosse organizes cougar conventions, and he believes that when women fill out online dating profiles, they might check off that they’re looking for men about their age because they feel socially conditioned to do so. However, when they’re out on the town, they’re much more open to younger men, and in turn, younger men are more open to dating older women. An AARP study found that a third of women over 40 are dating younger men. The stereotype used to be that an older woman had to be loaded with cash for a younger guy to be interested, but experts say that a rising number of women from all income brackets feel more comfortable dating younger men.
So, why do young guys think older women are so appealing? Just ask Alison Brown, who’s proud to be Miss Cougar Canada. She’s a divorced single mom and personal trainer with her own art gallery. She says younger men like dating older women because they’re successful, intelligent and most of all, don’t play “games,†like “I’m not going to call him back until he texts me†like their younger counterparts often do.
I have one observation about younger men – that is, ages 30-39…they are more carefree and expressive with their emotions, and more inclined to be affectionate and expressive romantically. They don’t over analyze every little move or word they hear. Younger guys are more energetic too, and they are truly spontaneous in their reactions. That is very refreshing for a woman in her early 40’s or even late 40’s…since men in their 40’s and 50’s seems very calculated, and have their guard up like the Berlin Wall. Not all, but many older men seem to be very tainted by their experiences, and that’s hard to take and break through when initially meeting someone. It’s so nice to just be yourself, a bit silly at times, but more at ease–and have someone be receptive and not too cynical. That’s definitely one great quality younger men still have – that open-minded approach that’s truly appealing to older women.
So, if women in their 30’s and 40’s are dating guys in their 20’s, what is a guy in his 40’s to do? Women in their 20’s and 30’s wouldn’t give a 40 year old the time of day.It seems like no matter what the situation is I’m out. It makes sense, I haven’t had a date in 20 years and now that I’m in my 40’s I probably never will…but that’s my own fault, I’m short, unattractive and have nothing to offer. But, at least I have some subject matter as an excuse! I can just say the reason I can’t find a date is because I’m in my 40’s! That should work, atleast for one decade. Hey, I’m just saying.
Anonymous – that is why God made money.
I tend to agree with Liz. Typically in my younger years I looked for guys either my age or older. Now that I’m in my mid 40’s, I prefer younger guys, not substantially younger but none the less. My only issue with the guys in the 35-42 age range could be that they are looking to start families and I’m already looking forward to grandchildren, lol