Cougarism

I was at a friend's birthday party this evening. She is turning 39. Wow, one more year till 40. Seems so old....if you are looking at it from a 20-some year old's standpoint. My friend doesn't look 39, nor does she act like it. She is very hip and very young at heart. Her husband may have a lot to do with her very young attitude. He's 26. Does that make her a cougar? They are very much in love and great for each other. They have been married since he was 18. Really....18.

O.k. so you are probably thinking, "WTF??" If you ever meet them, you would never guess the big difference in age. He acts very mature for his age and she acts very juvenile for hers. LOL!! (She's probably going to kill me for that statement.) My point is, all though there is a huge difference in number, there isn't a huge difference in personality, goals, passion and love they share for each other. It's amazing to watch them, because they are so in love. And age is not at all a factor.

The whole subject of "cougarism" was brought up by the hostess, the lady whose house they were holding the party at. She herself is in her mid to late 40s, looks great for her age and was totally jamming with the younger, teenage crowd at the party. Although she is married to someone who is relatively her age, she said if she was to do it all over again, she would have no quarrels about dating a much younger man. It's the new thing, its the fad, its the fashion. We went around the whole group that was sitting there and was surprised to find that every couple in that circle was the new the thing, the fad, the fashion, including myself. Of course my husband had no problem on proudly announcing his love for his older wife...me.....grrrr! O.k .I really don't have a problem with it either; it's just the word "older" versus "younger"....grrrr.

Women have come a long way from the traditional homemaker, barefoot and pregnant stereo-type that long has been slapped onto women for centuries. We have now evolved into the money making, career-oriented, super mom and wife. Even professional, single women 35 and up are empowered and love the flexibility of dating younger men.

I wonder: is the increase in older women dating younger men do to the fact that younger men are more open to women bringing home the bacon, having the career, and pretty much being the "boss" of the relationship? Do older women date younger men, because older men are still accustomed to the historical stereo-type of women? Are older men threatened by a powerful, professional women? Could that also be the reason they, themselves seek younger women?

It's funny to hear about older women and younger men. But ironically, it is becoming more and more common. Check out this article and let me know what you think.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/earlyshow/main2651142.shtml