The Cougar Alert

What’s the attraction between older women and younger men? Bhavana Choudhari uncovers the reasons behind the growing number of age-gap relationships.

- Bhavana Choudhari

Age-gap relationships are on the rise – with more women choosing to date significantly younger men. According to a recent study from McGill University in Canada, “Older women who have been previously married or been in a long-time relationship, are now more likely to seek a younger partner.”

So, what’s changed? In Indian culture, traditionally, it was acceptable for a man to have a relationship with a younger woman, while the opposite was frowned upon. But thanks to the global sexual revolution, women are now more inclined to stand their ground. And the line between what’s acceptable for men and what’s acceptable for women has blurred.

Dr Kersi Chavda, renowned psychiatrist, says, “Age should not be an issue in any relationship as long as both parties are happy and fulfilled. Today, there are many kinds of relationships and as long as the people engaging in the relationship are happy, why not? Everyone has different needs.”

PROS & CONS OF THE OLDER WOMAN-YOUNGER MAN RELATIONSHIP…

Dr Kersi lists some common reasons:

PROS:

Attraction. Firstly, it could just be that the older woman is attracted to the younger guy.

Excitement is why older women like younger men. Young men are energetic and they still enjoy discovering new things. Older men physically can’t compete with the vitality of a younger man. And older men are pretty set in their ways; they have already discovered all they wanted to discover and have settled into a routine existence, which a lot of older women find extremely boring.