Cougars, and their toy boys

Society is accustomed to big age gaps between men and women couples, especially older men dating younger women being seen as common behaviour. What we are not entirely used to is older women dating younger men. Some women that have joined up to our dating site have responded to our questionnaire on 'Women dating young men' are not sure whether to feel ashamed or triumphant by dating a young beau.

The main concerns for this group of women was that their man would leave them for someone younger once they hit their forties or fifties. Other issues to deal with was that the age mis-match would have them both at difference stages of their lives. He may still have a desire to back pack around Europe for a year, or he may be totally focused on building his young career. Women in their 30s feel pressured to have children fearing they only have a few years left, with the body clock ticking away, but he may not be ready.

34% of our respondents saw the lack of available male singles their own age as the biggest concern in their lives. Are these women looking in the wrong places? The night clubs are full of young men barely in their twenties, the bars are frequented by married men, and a single girl perched up at the bar by herself might as well have a sign on her back that says 'I'm single and desperate The local pub is great if you like being gawked at by dozens of old men in their 60s.

It comes as no surprise that women joining online dating sites has been increasing steadily over the past five years. Five years ago, the ratio of male members compared to female members was 70% men 30% women. Our statistics show that the numbers are virtually even now. When asked what was the main draw card for signing up to an online dating site, nearly half of the one hundred and fifty women that responded claim that being able to narrow down suitable men via their online profiles was what brought them online in the first place.

Many women still see meeting a rich older man as a viable proposition should a rare opportunity arise. Older wealthy men offer security, money and power. With most of the 30+ year old men taken, the young ones seem to be readily available and easy to find. Marriage statistics indicate that their is a definite trend for older women and younger men tying the knot. The trade off for these relationships is that the cougars are experiencing the kind of energetic sex they had not had in years, and the young studs are having sex with experienced women.

Do these types of relationships have an inevitable used by date? Probably.