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Mature Dating: Should Older Women Look for Younger Men?

By Margaret Manning December 10, 2014 Dating

Many older single women spend a lot of time looking for an attractive, kind, older, single man. While it’s true that some of us find the man of our dreams after 60, the majority of women that I have spoken to are deeply skeptical of this approach.

Some women complain that men in their 60s are only looking for “a nurse or a purse” (actually, preferably both together!) Others say that older men are only interested in dating women one third their age.

When it Comes to Mature Dating, Should Older Women Look for Younger Men?

But, after talking with dating coaches David Wygant and Lisa Copeland, it occurs to me that women our age may be just as biased against older men as they seem to be against us. After all, most men over 60 don’t look like George Clooney, just like most of us don’t look like Jane Seymour.

Is it really realistic to believe that we will find a 65-year old man that dresses well, is financially independent and who loves spending time at the gym? If we really want these things, maybe it’s time for us to take a page from their book and turn the dial on our dating profile back a decade.

Beyond physical characteristics, there is another reason that women in their 60s might want to consider looking for a younger man. The unfortunate truth is that, the older we get, the greater the difference becomes between the number of single men and women in our age group.

For example, according to this Huff Post article, at ages 50-54, there are about equal numbers of single men and women. From age 60-64, there are close to 2.3 single women for every single man. By, age 70-74, the ratio is 4 to 1!

Now, I’m not saying that women my age need to adopt a cougar mentality. But, for those of us who are trying mature dating, maybe it’s worth taking a chance with a younger audience. Sure, we might need to put in a little extra work at the gym to build up our bodies (and our self-confidence). But, at least then the numbers will be in our favor – or at least even.

I’m really curious what you think about this. Please take a look at the questions below and add your thoughts in the comments section below.

Is it appropriate for a woman in her 60s to date a man 10 or even 20 years younger than her? Is it realistic? Have you dated a younger man since you turned 50? What was your experience? Please join the conversation.

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The Author

Margaret Manning is the founder of Sixty and Me. She is an entrepreneur, author and speaker. Margaret is passionate about building dynamic and engaged communities that improve lives and change perceptions. Margaret can be contacted at margaret@sixtyandme.com

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