The True Effects of Cougars Marrying Young Men

Heman Thuranira

Getting married is still one of the main goals many people set for themselves. From wanting companionship to having babies from getting financial security, people get married for various reasons. However, in the past few years, cougars, (women who target and marry younger men) have been on the rise. Regardless of whether you want to be in the hypogenous relationship, these relationships are perplexing to comprehend. Below is a guide that will help you comprehend the older woman younger man marriage statistics that are on the rise today

Major Facts Regarding Age Disparity In Heterosexual Marriage

The word cougar is usually set to define a woman who chooses to enter a relationship with a man that is more than 5 years younger than her. This phenomenon is bound to cultural expectations of different regions. To fathom the makeup of such relationships, we will consider a few.

1. Age disparity data in the USA (2013)

The most notable older woman younger man marriage statistics are recorded in the US with a whopping 1.7 percent increase. This study released in 2013 showed that women ranging from the ages of 35 to 44 were choosing men who were more than 10 years younger than them. As they strived to be more financially stable, a 13 percent increase of women above 40 stated they were in sexual relationships with men who were 5 to 10 years younger.

2. Age disparity data in the UK (2003)

Marriage statistics in the United Kingdom showcased a different development from their counterparts in the United States. This was in the form of a recorded surge in the number of divorce cases mainly initiated by women. This study showed that the age gap played a big part to both men and women and thus no one stood to benefit from choosing older partners. The office of National statistics showed that men marrying older women were on the decrease from the year 1963 to 1998. In tandem, women marrying younger men were up by 11% as it rose from 15% to 26%.

3. Age disparity data in Australia (1995)

The age disparities in Australia recorded a steady decline of people getting married especially in the 1970s. This was noted to decrease from 27.3% for men and 25.3% for women to 24 and 20 years for men and women respectively. A different study found that up to 1992 both genders were postponing marriage in favor of cohabiting. This feature inherently allowed the rise of older woman younger man marriage statistics as couples were no longer under the spotlight in regard to cultural backlash. As a result, a rise of almost 2% of women in relationships with younger men has been recorded for women above 35 years.

Reasons for Older Female - Younger Male Relationships in Marriage

One of the motives why older women marry younger men is due to the confidence these women feel when seen with young men. But then again, if you want to overcome depression in older female - younger male relationships marriages, certain elements such as the following must be considered:

  • The marriage squeeze

For centuries women have been known to settle with older, financially stable men. This was based on the aspect that a woman had limited opportunities to earn a living hence she depended on her husband. This has been addressed with the fight of equal rights that allow women to be finickier in the kind of partner they choose. As a whole, this aspect allows women to marry younger men for gratification rather than money and security.

  • Migration patterns

Throughout the world, the determining factor of marrying an older woman varies extensively. Even as it's made possible in western countries, it's still frowned upon in most African and Arab nations. As expected the environment plays a large role in whether or not a couple will face the stigma that could lead to depression.

Problems That Accompany Marrying An Older Woman

Over time studies have shown that men and women choose marriage mates by considering diverse factors. This aspect plays a role in determining if the relationship in question will succeed or not. Issues that might arise include:

  • Different aging rates

Cheating has been a major factor associated with older woman younger man marriage statistics. This is because men are viewed as visual creatures and are generally known to be attracted to women who are in their 20s. As an older woman has already surpassed him in age, you will expect such men to be jittery or simply staying in such a relationship temporarily. However, even in a rare case of your man being enduring and committed, the man's mortality rate decreases significantly even as that of women increases.

  • Communication issues

Most women who are classified as cougars are known to be financially stable and aggressive in their pursuits of desire. Unfortunately, the most pairing that happens is with men who have barely finished their college education and hence are still in the process of discovering themselves. This is an ill-matched situation as the woman will end up taking on the role of a mother than a wife.

  • Sexual life

Finally one of the significant problems with marrying an older woman is the dwindling sex life. As a woman gets older, her standard hormonal release decreases, which leads to a lower sex drive. What's more, as a woman first reaches menopause, the whole idea of having an active sex life is limited considerably as the symptoms she experiences make it impossible for her to enjoy sex. This works negatively for a young man who in his youthful age is very sexually active.

Final Thoughts

Even as you consider what brings about situations of men marrying older women, you have to agree that cougars defy the concept that men are incapable of finding older women attractive. That said, women who marry younger men are burdened with the aspect of being mothers more than lovers to their partners. Even as the world records an increase in such relationships, the stigma of a woman being labeled a desperate and aggressive cradle robber is still high.