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Western University provides funding as a member of The Conversation CA. DOI. Share article. Share article. Print article. Hollywood’s obsession with age hypogamy — relationships between older women and younger men — never gets old. More than 50 years after The Graduate
a film where Mrs. Robinson
an older woman
propositions a young male college graduate
the Netflix rom-com A Family Affair
starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron
has repurposed the same age-gap situationship to drive the plot. ‘I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris
’ by Glynnis MacNicol. (Penguin Life) So does the upcoming Bridget Jones flick
Mad About the Boy
in which 50-something Bridget gets involved with a man in his 20s. Let’s not forget Glynnis MacNicol’s memoir I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself
featuring trysts with younger men as part of her pleasure-driven pandemic sojourn in Paris. A recent Ipsos poll found that many American adults have engaged in age-gap dating — that is
they have previously dated someone with an age difference of 10+ years. It also found that many find such relationships perfectly socially acceptable. And in spite of what the aforementioned films suggest
age-gap relationships occur between not just Boomers or Gen X women and younger men. They also occur between Gen Z men and Millennial women
and are more common than many might think. The recent movie The Idea of You hit a cultural nerve about age-gap relationships. It features a Millennial woman (Anne Hathaway) getting into a relationship with a younger Gen Z man (Nicholas Galitzine). The film’s subplot of younger mean girls bullying Hathaway’s character dramatizes how harsh society can still be to women who want to enjoy anything other than ring-on-finger “age appropriate” arrangements. The social reality of Millennial women and Gen Z men dating means we need to rethink stereotypes about MILFs
predatory cougars or boy toys
particularly when it’s the younger men doing the pursuing. As social scientists who study dating
relating and mate choice
we’re curious about the appeal of these relationships to the people in them. What makes them tick? What should Millennial women and Gen Z men keep in mind when sharing their relationships with family and friends? How to know when it’s time to quit therapy Ready for the next step in your career? Here’s how to get ready for your first leadership position Struggling to discuss climate change with older relatives? These 3 scenarios can help. Trailer for ‘The Idea of You’ (Prime Video). The demographic dance. Our analysis of age hypogamy reveals the pragmatic underpinning of these relationships
it sometimes comes down to who’s available. Many older men often prefer to date younger women. The same is true for a lot of older women
with Millennial and Gen Z men emerging as appealing dating options. For their part
many Gen Z men might have fewer opportunities to date women their own age
or prefer to date older women for various reasons. Enter Millennial women. Some age gaps gain more attention than others. Age-gap relationships grab people’s attention when they deem the age difference between partners significant. Our reactions also have to do with how old the people in question are. Take the 40 year age difference between Cher (77) and her boyfriend Alexander Edwards (37). When both partners are relatively young and their age gap smaller
as in the case of some relationships between Millennial women and Gen Z men
it might appear less transgressive or impactful. This could explain why these pairings get relatively little cultural air play. But because these unions occur when a mere few years apart is more meaningful from a developmental standpoint
their significance might be underplayed. Singer Cher and her boyfriend
Alexander Edwards
pose for photographers during the 77th Cannes International Film Festival
Cap d'Antibes
southern France
May 23
2024. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP) What’s the attraction? If you’re an older Millennial woman
you might be attracted to younger men for their energy
inclusive views about sex and gender and superior care and literacy about their partner’s emotional well-being.
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