What’s Up With Men Marrying Older Women? I was in Paris last week. City of romance, art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. The City of Light never disappoints as the sights, sounds, and smells were remarkable. I know a handful of couples who became engaged on the Eiffel Tower. I can see why as it is magical. As a Marriage Counselor, I observed couples walking hand in hand and kissing for no apparent reason. Couples who had their children with them did so, as well. What a charming place to feel the love. With all the sightseeing, eating and soaking up the culture my take away during this trip was how interesting the President of France, as hot looking as one could be, is married to a woman 25 years older than him. Emmanuel Macron, 39 and Brigitte Trogneux, 64 have been married for 11 years. She was his high school drama teacher. As much as I can appreciate this now I could not 25 years ago when I was in a relationship with a man 7 years my junior.
What’s Up With Men Marrying Older Women?
I was raised to think my partner should be older and more affluent so as to be able to take care of his brood. I was in this relationship for 3 years. Even then I knew I would never marry this man. My conditioned upbringing made sure of that.
Apparently, May-December romances (two parties in a relationship where there is a considerable age difference) has its advantages:
- Sex drive– according to Alfred Kinsey’s work on sexuality men’s sexual hormones peak at age 18 whereas women in their early 30s. Making an older woman more experienced for her younger partner.
- Maturity – during the course of aging, an older woman is more likely to be more emotionally and psychologically inclined not to fight (act out) and be able to exercise more appropriate behavior.
- She is less likely not to have an affair having sewed her oats and gotten all that out of her system.
- Parenting – it requires maturity and equanimity to exercise effective parenting.
- Professionally further in her career – which makes for the contribution of more money to the family income.
- Health compatibility – Women live about five years longer than men which suggest biology, not lifestyle is the cause of men dying earlier (BBC review). So marrying a woman five years older is marrying his physiological equal.
What’s Up With Men Marrying Older Women?
Famous couples where the woman was older include:
Prince Harry, 33 and Meghan Markle, 36
Hugh Jackman, 28 and Deborra-Lee Furness, 41
Ashton Kutcher, 27 and Demi Moore, 43
Madonna, 42 and Guy Ritchie, 32
Nick Cannon, 28 and Mariah Carey, 40
When men marry younger women it’s often tied to ego and self-worth. A younger woman can serve as a trophy wife and fill a need that manages their unresolved personal issues. As these relationships can be long-term that is an article for another time.
As a Marriage Counselor, I believe it is important an individual develops a Strong Sense of Self. Developing a Sense of Self is essential to growing up. The path of this goal is Differentiation. Differentiation is the ability to maintain one’s own identity, belief, and feelings while others do the same. Differentiation within a relationship is the process through which you can live in close proximity to a partner and still maintain a separate sense of self. An older woman will more than likely be more differentiated and assured of herself eliminating power struggles that could arise if she were younger and less mature. That being said, this mature woman should be able to identify traits that are appropriate for a life partner.
For more information on developing a stronger sense of self please contact me at (858) 735-1139.