A single man ended a connection with an otherwise compatible and attractive woman after 14 dates upon discovering she was older than him, according to relationship coach Louanne Ward. Ward described the incident as an example of a widespread prejudice that causes men to reject women they like.
The man had continued to see the woman for over three months, finding her attractive and experiencing no issues in their compatibility, values, or interactions. However, upon learning her age, which was only one year older than his, he decided she was no longer suitable. Ward noted that the man's objection was not based on any deceit or negative change in the woman, but solely on the age difference.
Ward stated that this scenario is far from uncommon, citing research indicating that men frequently avoid women even a few years their senior. She observed that this aversion can intensify with age, as older men tend to seek partners further below their own age bracket.
"The older he gets, the further below his own age he'll go," Ward explained. "How far above his age narrows as he ages."
She also highlighted the societal reliance on women being willing to date men their own age or younger. Data from the UK census indicates that men are older in 68% of married couples, while women are older in 20%. This dynamic suggests that women's willingness to date older or same-aged partners is crucial for couple formation.
"So ladies, if you're holding out for a younger man, you're playing with one-in-five odds," Ward remarked. "The whole thing runs on women being willing to date men their own age or older."
Ward emphasized that while individuals may express openness to dating older women when asked directly, their actions often reveal a different preference. She noted that even when women possess all the qualities a man seeks, a slight age difference can lead to rejection.
"Every matchmaker I know watches this happen. Men saying no to great matches because of a woman's age. She can have everything he asked for, brains, heart and beauty, and he'll say no to her number. Not all men, of course. There are always exceptions around 20 per cent, in fact."
Ward cautioned against trying to conceal one's age, stating that it is not a solvable issue for the woman. "Women can't fix this," she said. "No point lying about your age. You don't need to defend it. Because you cannot negotiate away someone else's prejudice. A preference shapes who you pursue. But when a number undoes someone you already liked, is it still a preference? And if women applied the very same rule, what would be left of dating?"
A stock image shows a couple from behind.
Perth relationship coach Louanne Ward said discovering that a woman is older is one of the most common prejudices she's seen cause men to reject someone they 'genuinely like'.
