For a number of Monday nights I have been glued to my television set for an hour watching a pop program, “Age of Love,” which proposes an interesting question. When it comes to couples,
does age really matter?

The Bachelor: Mark, an Aussie hunk, pro tennis player. Age: 30.

The Women: A gorgeous bunch: Age: 40’s.

Mark meets the women in their 40’s and is amazed by their beauty, intelligence, spunk, sense of fun, humor and adventure. He has to eliminate one each week and will be left with his dream date/mate.

Things get complicated.

More Women: A gorgeous bunch: Age: 20’s. Perfect bodies, some enhanced, enter. They all pile into the hot tub. With Mark. Giggle, giggle. There’s nothing to say. Mark is missing the older women.

Now we have age pitted against age. Everyone is housed in a huge glass apartment building.
Mark is on the 30th floor, the 20’s are on the 20th floor, the 40’s are on the 40th floor.
Too add a little stress, all the women are moved in to the same apartment on the 40th floor.

There are group dates, individual dates, and weekly eliminations. But during this time, the 2o-somethings are verrrry sure of themselves, to wit: “they (the 40 year olds) can’t beat us, couldn’t be attractive in his eyes, are old enough to be my mother, are all dried up, have wrinkles, are going through menopause (witness an imitation of a woman having hot flashes),
have nothing to say, blah, blahdy blay…Surprise! There is a 26 year old left and a 48 year old. You could barely tell the difference. Well maybe you can. Just listen to the two speak.

Tomorrow night is the last episode; they are all flying to meet Mark’s parents in Australia.
I saw the preview. Imagine the look on Marks’ mother’s face when she hears Jen announce that she is 48 years old.

I have been engrossed in this show because television reflects what is going on in society, and there has been hinting that May-December coupling is going in the other direction; December-May. Older women with younger men. For example, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher made headlines when they became an item and then married.

Even if the “older” woman does not “win” a future relationship with the younger man in this contrived setting. did she lose? I think not.

Yes, there are pragmatics to consider; babies, families.

But if we break through our parameters and comfortable mores, love will find a way.

Comments
(14 total) Post a Comment

•redhe…
• Offline IM

Hmmm, well I’ve dated younger men, so obviously I’m in favour of it! What irritates me is that idea that it’s somehow ok for older men to date younger women, but not vice versa. I’m not impressed by double standards, and I find that particular one demeaning to women.

At the moment, I’m involved with somebody older than me, but I don’t find his age relevant. To me, what matters is how the people connect. I think sometimes an extreme age gap — either way — can make it difficult for people to have as much in common, but even that is not really always true. At the end of the day, maybe what it all really means is that generalizations cause people to rule out potential partners who might really be perfect for them, so it’s best to avoid generalized ideas. 🙂

I haven’t seen this show, but that’s quite a concept.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 07:05pm (EDT) Remove Comment

•Sans …
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I agree,dear Red, I so agree.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 07:08pm (EDT) Remove Comment

•Laurita
• Offline IM

I think it’s perfectly ok for a woman to be older than the man she’s involved with. True love in this world is so hard to find. What difference does it make how it comes to us ?
Love will find a way.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 07:35pm (EDT) Remove Comment

•Sign …
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I am a woman that is 48years old & I have to say, *Yes, to younger men!* The real truth is that only the younger men ask me out *wink* This year I started seeing a man 6 years older ~ the first in 10 years! And YES it is nice.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 05:04pm (PDT) Remove Comment

•sugar…
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So, that’s where you’ve been.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 08:25pm (CDT) Remove Comment

•Shy
• Offline IM

I have to say I am a bit biased on this subject, my boyfriend is actually than me. But in my defense, men from other cultures tend to be more mature than their american counterparts. For one, they are generally more world traveled, my guy speaks 4 languages fluently and several dialects of his own native tongue, and has traveled much of the world, he is now polishing his english skills as well as teaching me german, urdu and improving my french…*raises eyebrow*….

He is a CPA and I am an accountant/business manager so we have this in common, also. We haven’t found age to be an issue at this point in our relationship. We are both laid back, easy going, and spiritual by nature so we seem to get along just fine. He allows me the freedom to be myself and doesn’t try to change me in anyway. He is intelligent and self assured and I love that in a man. Plus, I have always had a thing for a man that can whisper to me is a foreign language…*giggles… My ex was spanish and italian. I need mental stimulation, as long as I find that, age doesn’t matter to me.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 10:11pm (MDT) Remove Comment

•Shy
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oops! I meant to say my boyfriend is actually younger than me….*giggles…but I’m sure you knew that.

Sunday August 5, 2007 – 10:13pm (MDT) Remove Comment

•H R H
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I fell madly in love with a younger man and sometimes torment myself for not sticking with him. Sigh. I’m not sure the age is the point as much as the connection.

Monday August 6, 2007 – 01:55am (CDT) Remove Comment

•biggy
• Offline IM

Hmmmm….Lets do the math! If more older women are dating younger men, then that leaves more younger women dating older men or each other! Now that all sounds sweet to me, but maybe we need a third party opinion. Lets ask our children!

Monday August 6, 2007 – 04:30pm (CDT) Remove Comment

•Papa
• Offline IM

I think the trend is not to get trapped in a stereotype match but to follow one’s feelings..it is a significant movement away from false social standards which in time will be less shocking or noticeable.~~Papa

Monday August 6, 2007 – 04:38pm (PDT) Remove Comment

•Maste…
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I dont care about age, as I wrote that in my poem You and Me…good topic

Wednesday August 8, 2007 – 02:28pm (EEST) Remove Comment

•aimle…
• Offline IM

Re: the age thing. Well, I’m from the School of Colette on that subject, although I was a child bride ;p. I’ve had my day as the prettiest girl in the room, but now I hand that honor to the new ones, surgically enhanced or not. I married my match, & it’s been over thirty years since I thoght seriously about anybody else in a romantic vein. Teaching young adolescents & young adults for many years, I’ve been known to inspire a crush or two. I’ve been proposed to by three different four-year-old boys in my lifetime, too. Always my answer is the same, “It’s so flattering, you’re so sweet, but I’m already married.” I hold no grudge against anybody else’s search for happiness. Who knows what “crazy” notions might inspire a person & make their lives happier? I certainly don’t. I’m very happy with the maternal approach so far.

Wednesday August 8, 2007 – 08:09am (CDT) Remove Comment

•Frida…
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I don’t think technically physical age per se matters at all; what matters to me is “inner chronological age” and that is very important to me. Immature people bore me to death, independently of their age. I have met some 50 something year-old teenagers. What a waste of life experiences! 🙂

Wednesday August 8, 2007 – 12:10pm (CDT) Remove Comment

•Lex
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If that is still an issue in USA, just imagine how the people of Asia react to the subject.
Yep, here in Asia, age thing is a very sensitive thing. And the consideration can be really harsh (not sometimes, but MOST OF THE TIME).

If you wanna know a bad joke they made about age, here’s one:
A woman in her 20s is like a soccer ball, she got 22 guys chasing her around like crazy.
A woman in her 30s is like a basket ball, she got 10 men fighting just to have her.
A woman in her 40s is like a golf ball, just hit her so hard to make her out of sight.

Well…only heartless guys that can laugh their butts off when they hear that one.

Hope you’re feeling great today.
(^O^)v

Monday August 13, 2007 – 10:18am (ICT) Remove Comment