Let’s face it, when it comes to dating, we live in a lawless era in which love is love. We’re seeing significant age gaps in the dating pool, and it’s not just the typical old man younger woman plot. According to an AARP study from 2003, 34% of women over the age of 39 were dating younger men. Add in the increasing popularity of divorce over the last 50 years. The introduction of dating apps, and the way we connect has been completely transformed. Love is a mash-up. And if age is nothing but a number, how can we comprehend what is the ideal age gap and is 19 and 24 a huge age gap in dating?
SOCIETY AND ITS RULES
It is interesting that society has begun to validate the simple fact that short or long-term relationships can be meaningful. The narrative of “you only get one love” is being rewritten as our culture continues to redefine itself. Living in the present and appreciating things for what they are now replaces permanence. While I do see long-term, committed, monogamous relationships, I also see dating after divorce and other alternative situations. Apps and websites have played a significant role in the dating community, and doors have opened for people of all ages. It’s no surprise that the dating age range has widened! It is an exciting time to try new things in your love life.
AGE GAP RULES
The dating age rule for determining a socially acceptable age difference between partners is as follows: Half your age plus seven (40 = 20 +7 = 27) to define a partner’s minimum age and your age minus seven times two (40 = 33 * 2 = 60) to define a partner’s maximum age. In general, I believe that being 10-20 years junior or senior is “appropriate” by our society’s standards. Surely, the taboo of having more than a seven-year age difference has vanished. However, just because you like them does not always imply that society will view your relationship favorably, and this is something to be aware of.
Unfortunately, even though we are progressing as a society, there are still people who are judgmental when it comes to obvious age differences in dating. We can see the example of many celebrity couples. If Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher can work it out. When they began dating, she was 41 and he was 25, and films such as “Call Me By Your Name” have been nominated for Best Picture at the Awards.
ENDING NOTES
A relationship will always have ups and downs, but when there is a significant age difference, this aspect can be amplified. Is it really important how old your partner is if you have the awareness, romantic connection, and emotional maturity to navigate the obstacles that life throws at you?
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