Move over Mrs. Robinson. A new study finds the "cougar phenomenon" -- older women dating younger men -- isn't just a reality show--but an actual reality for many daters out there.
Speeddate.com, the world's first speed dating website, gave GalTime an exclusive look at its data from 100,000 speed dates from around the world in a forty-eight hour period. They found women in their forties preferred to meet younger men and the gap between the sexes only grew larger as the woman aged.
Yoo hoo! Cabana boy!
The website also found that Nebraska and North Dakota have the most women looking for love amongst their juniors. (And here I would have bet the farm on California taking the top spot!)
"The concept of older women dating much younger men is certainly prevalent in popular culture," says Dan Abelon, co-founder and president of SpeedDate.com. "However, our findings confirm that many women do, in fact, become more assertive as they age and date younger men, especially starting at age 40."
And the older they get - the more assertive - according to the data, anyway. In fact, by age sixty, women were shown to be more likely to start up a dating conversation than their male peers.
You go, girl!
'Cause hey -- why not? After all, men have been doing it for years--without, I might add, the tacky cougar label. So if Stella wants to get her groove back, I say she goes for it!
Here are some tips from SpeedDate.com for women looking to hook up with younger men. (And heck, any men, for that matter!)
- Be yourself. It’s about chemistry not age - the key to success in online dating is to just be yourself and be confident in your beliefs, hobbies, and interests.
- Be current. Take special interest in current events and pop culture to avoid awkward moments. Your younger date may better relate to Brett Michaels as the star of Rock of Love rather than the lead singer of Poison. (Okay, I am sooo cringing right now!)
- Be engaging. Ask your date questions, listen to his responses, and show genuine interest in his answers. Sometimes, nothing is more attractive than an engaging, genuine listener.
Is it a surprise that women tend to go younger as they get older? Is it a big deal? Have you dated younger men? We want to hear from you!
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