5 Pros and 5 Cons of Dating Younger Men
Women dating younger men is more common today than in generations past. This can be in the form of a serious long-term relationship — a classical May-December romance. It could also be much more casual in nature — a no strings attached cougar-cub arrangement. While the social stigma that used to be attached to these relationships no longer exists, there are still several things that a woman should consider before deciding to date a younger man.
Here are five pros and five cons of dating a younger man.
— The Pros —
1. His Youthful Enthusiasm is Contagious
If the man that you are dating is ten or more years younger than you, they will be noticeably more enthusiastic about everything — about life, about his career, about you. After all, he still has roads in his life yet to travel — worlds to explore. Being by his side as he goes through this discovery phase will inevitably rub off some of the excitement and enthusiasm on you.
Activities that you may not have enjoyed in years will seem fresh again. You will also experience new activities that you didn’t engage in earlier in your life. Surfing, hiking, skydiving — dating a younger man will definitely reset the “fun-meter” for your dating experiences. Being with a man that has energy and enthusiasm for life beyond work is very refreshing and exhilarating indeed.
2. Sexual Stamina
No matter how well a man takes care of himself, his sexual peak is usually reached in his twenties. Conversely, a woman’s sexual prime comes much later in life — by almost two decades. Therefore, sexually speaking, dating a younger man makes perfect mathematical sense. When you have two physical beings uniting at the moment of their sexual prime — mind-blowing sex is a certainty.
3. No Ruts
As men get older, they enter established routines. As a consequence, their partners can also feel like their whole life has become one big rut. Younger men have yet to become such creatures of habit. They are more spontaneous. Going out with a younger man will seem more like an adventure. You won’t be stuck reliving the same dating experience night after night.
4. It’s Nice to Be Worshiped
Men tend to express greater adoration toward you when you are the oldest one in the relationship. You can sense how they take pride in having an older woman as their girlfriend. Sometimes, you can even sense this adoration coming from his friends. In short, you feel desirable — who doesn’t like that?
Unlike older men, younger men will often defer to your experience. They will actually seek out your opinion on things related to money, career, and life. Your opinions are not marginalized, they are actually taken into serious consideration.
This means that a younger man will make you feel more wanted physically as well as intellectually.
5. Younger Men Have Less Baggage
Men, just like women, carry the baggage of their previous relationships into every subsequent relationship that they have. Since younger men have had less dating and relationship experience, this means that they carry less baggage as well. As a result, he will be less biased in the relationship. You will feel that the relationship is more open and that communication can flow easier.
— The Cons —
1. Financial Disparity
The greater the age gap, the greater the income disparity. When dating a younger man, often you will be the top earner. While this doesn’t carry the same psychological burden for younger men as it would for an older man, it can have practical consequences. A younger man may not be able to afford some of the activities that you have grown accustomed to. You may find yourself having to contribute to the expense of the date — sometimes flipping the entire bill.
There is also the risk of the younger man becoming financially dependent on you. This can create awkward situations and even stagnate his own earnings potential
2. Generation Gaps
The wider the age difference, the less that you will have in common, culturally speaking. While you may easily relate to contemporary styles of music, slang, and entertainment; he may not make a connection to the cultural references that you make. That can lead to moments of frustration and miscommunication.
3. Immaturity
If you found that even men of your own age were immature, imagine what to expect with regard to immaturity among younger men. From the day to day things, such as picking up after himself — to the larger things, such as developing an appreciation for the finer things in life — younger men are almost always going to be less mature.
This disparate maturity between yourself and your younger partner can make you feel like you are missing out on a whole aspect of your life. It can also create tension and set one of you, or both of you, out on your own direction.
4. Development of a Mommy Complex
Becoming involved with a younger man in the context of a long-term relationship can result in a “mommy complex” dynamic taking root. This will usually creep up on you slowly. As the relationship develops he will increasingly become dependent on you. From doing his laundry to cooking his meals, to reminding him to call his real mother on Mother’s Day — your role in the relationship soon becomes maternal.
Over time, this can cause elevated levels of frustration on your part. It can also result in the younger man taking you for granted as a partner, woman, and lover.
5. Lifestyle Differences
Age differences often bring with them lifestyle differences. While you and your younger man may have a solid connection to the spiritual and romantic realm, you may still have some discord on how each of you lives your life.
For example, your younger man might still have a propensity to want to live a “party” lifestyle while you dispensed with that when you finished college. A younger man might not appreciate the enthusiasm that you have for wine tasting or visiting art galleries. Simply put, dating a younger man will often reveal gaps in your respective lifestyles.
— Dating a Younger Man is Both Rosy and Thorny —
For a woman, dating a younger man is both rosy and thorny. In terms of the benefits that she obtains by romantically associating herself with someone that has high levels of enthusiasm and vigor — the rewards are obvious. However, she must also deal with an individual that, through no fault of his own, is less traveled and less experienced in life. For most women, it becomes an issue of balancing the pros that come with a man’s youth and the cons that emanate from his immaturity.
