You know, frankly, Mrs. Robinson had a lot going for her. First of all, she was played by sultry Hollywood and multiple award winning actress, Anne Bancroft. And what woman does not positively LOVE that marvelous leopard print bra and slip ensemble she wore for her trysts with Dustin Hoffman? All this before Victoria had her Secret in everywoman’s lingerie drawer and made leopard print lingerie so readily available, even at Wal*Mart and Target!
As a Baby Boomer Dating expert, one of the complaints I commonly hear from the single boomer women is about how few single men their own age there are. Certainly, it is a sad fact. As women age (gasp, don’t you hate that term?), more men are already married or have (yes) died. When you only dating target focus on men within 5 years of your age range, it can feel really frustrating and like your dating choices are really limited.
But we are modern women now, are we not?
So who is to say we can ONLY date, marry, pair up and be happy with a man within 5 years of our age?
No one!
Let’s learn a dating and relationship success truth from Hollywood’s example. Mrs. Robinson. Susan Sarandon. Demi Moore. All of these glamorous award winning ladies are happy paired up with younger men. Younger men who actively and clearly pursued them.
This is called Cougar Dating.
No longer is Cougar Dating all about older women who are dressed in some tacky too tight and too plunging obvious clothing and overly desperate manner on the prowl looking to devour younger men at the singles bars.
Au contraire! (that was for Yann Vernier)
Truth be told, many younger men are the ones who first pursue older women. The younger men are looking for women who are more confident, socially poised, and have more relationship maturity than the 20 somethings they were previously dating.
In short, these younger men, often in their late 20s and early 30s, are looking for (yes, let me hear you say it) …. a relationship. They are often looking to pair bond (as the sociologist and anthropologists refer to it) and settle down. While many people initially think, “Oh sure, they just want one thing….” In truth studies demonstrate that many young men are looking to pair up and settle down in mature relationships and want a mature woman for their life partner.
No longer is a woman dating a younger man socially taboo. In fact, Cougar Dating has become so mainstream that it is now featured on multiple tv shows, including popular reality tv.
Take a page out of Hollywood tv and movies and expand the age range you will consider in your search for love. Your Mr. Right might just be a younger man in the guise of Benjamin Braddock!
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Lisa McLellan says
September 12, 2009 at 2:15 PMI never heard the term “Cougar Dating” but I like it! Meow! I would probably go with a man up to 10 years older or younger than me. I think a 20 year range should open the window a bit!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Tips, Babysitting Services – Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
Kate McKeon says
September 12, 2009 at 3:07 PMLet’s hear the ladies ROAR!
Expanding spheres of influence, Kate
April Braswell says
September 12, 2009 at 3:10 PMHi Katie,
it’s TRUE!
Here I am overly broadly categorizing that many of the older women are baby boomers. But plenty single GenX ladies are pursued and won by younger men. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April
Katie says
September 12, 2009 at 2:54 PMMy last boyfriend was 8 years younger . . . and I just entered my 30s. Plenty of younger men out there!
>, Katie
Rob Northrup says
September 12, 2009 at 3:00 PMDemi Moore has pretty poor taste dumping Bruce WIllis the father of her children for the man-child…
BTW I have nothing against people of different ages dating and marrying…
Seize the Day,
Rob
Steve Chambers says
September 12, 2009 at 4:01 PMWomen in their 40’s and 50’s don’t swell. don’t tell and appreciate it like hell. What more could a young guy want?
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Training Expert
Robert Martin says
September 12, 2009 at 5:55 PMApril,
I am keeping my Cougar of 16 years. Ok, she wasn’t a Cougar then, but she is now. Hopefully she doesn’t decide the lease is up and it is time to turn me in for a newer better running model.
Robert Martin
Darryl Pace says
September 12, 2009 at 7:03 PMHey, April, good information for the mature single ladies out there.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Jose Escalante says
September 12, 2009 at 7:13 PMSorry ladies I’m in my 2o’s but I’m taken… 🙂
Jose Escalante
Greg says
September 12, 2009 at 7:26 PMGood article!
~Greg
Certified Cougar Bait
Vick says
September 12, 2009 at 8:29 PMThis makes me think of my daughter. She was afraid of what people might think. I reinforced the fact it only matters what the two of you think. It’s your relationship not theirs and if it works for the two of you – enjoy the experience. What others think is only an opinion – not necessarily shared by everyone else.
Vicki
Mister P. says
September 13, 2009 at 10:30 AMI had never heard of the term ‘Cougar Dating’ before.
Interesting.
Bert
Anthony Lemme says
September 13, 2009 at 5:13 PMVive les cougars!
Anthony
JJ Jalopy says
September 14, 2009 at 1:54 PMGRRRRRRRR!!!
Gotta love the hot cougar ladies!
Steve’s comment above made me laugh out loud.
This post was a riot!