An older guy in a relationship with a younger girl. Sounds pretty normal, nothing out of the ordinary. But what about the other way around, an older girl with a younger guy? Why is this an idea so many people are uncomfortable with?
Time and time again, men and women in relationships where the woman is older have to justify the relationship.
When Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas got married, their 10-year age gap got so much attention and coverage simply due to the fact that Priyanka is older. However, when Jay-Z and Beyonce announced that they were married, people didn't look twice at their 12-year age difference.
A good example of this would be when Pete Davidson addressed his relationship with Kate Beckinsale on SNL. He acknowledged the fascination people had with the age difference and mentioned how it didn't bother them.
He then said that if people "have questions about a relationship with a big age difference, just ask Leonardo DiCaprio, Jason Statham, Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, Jeff Goldblum, Scott Disick, Dane Cook, Derek Jeter, Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee, Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn and whoever the president of France is, Mel Gibson, Billy Joel, Mick Jagger, Sylvester Stallone, Eddie Murphy, Kelsey Grammer, Larry King, Larry King, Larry King, Rod Stewart, and Donald Trump."
It's not that we haven't seen relationships with large age differences, it's just that we're not used to the women being older. So when we do see it, we tend to label them as cougars; a term that makes it seem as though the women is preying on younger men.
In reality, the younger man is usually the one to approach the woman.
Traditionally, women would marry older men because it was safe. The dependant woman who didn't have a say in society had to depend on the rich and powerful man to provide for her.
In today's world though, women are becoming more and more successful on their own, and don't need a man's support the way they used to. This empowerment gives them the freedom to do as they please and be attracted to whomever they wish.
The beauty of dating in today's age is that there are very few boundaries. You can be with someone of any gender, race, religion, and age. As long as the two people in the relationship are legal and happy, who are we to judge?
