Older Women, Younger Men: New Options for Love and Romance
It's out there — in the press, on the internet and emblazoned on the glossiest magazine covers: romance rule breaker, the union of older women and younger men. Whether couples marry or live together, the popularity of "age gap" relationships is undoubtedly on the rise. Despite the statistics and the acceptance of such relationships among celebrities, negative stereotypes that surround these romances prevent many older women from having the happy and loving union for which they long; for these...
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It's out there — in the press, on the internet and emblazoned on the glossiest magazine covers: romance rule breaker, the union of older women and younger men. Whether couples marry or live together, the popularity of "age gap" relationships is undoubtedly on the rise. Despite the statistics and the acceptance of such relationships among celebrities, negative stereotypes that surround these romances prevent many older women from having the happy and loving union for which they long; for these older women have not been open to finding a mate from within the large pool of younger men.In their provocative, groundbreaking guide, Felicia Brings and Susan Winter, both of whom have had long-term relationships with younger men, shatter the myths as they share their thoughts and the experiences of over 200 couples on everything from sex to dealing with her family and his, to handling the criticisms and comments of peers. Advice is delivered with large doses of empowerment, humor and compassion that will help make the brave new world of relationship potential between older women and younger men lead to lasting love. Foreword Here's a book for women of a certain age who know they aren't just cars whose "end value [is] based on an odometer reading." Brings and Winter disarmingly and persuasively contend that a woman has the right to be openly and lovingly involved with a man at least a decade younger regardless of the "ignorance, myths and false beliefs" of a society that sees such relationships as less than "A-list."Engagingly written by two successful career women, the book is based upon interviews with older women, younger men, their families, and experts in psychology, psychotherapy, social work, and relationship counseling. Based upon the premise that women have more choices today than in the past, the book argues that what was once mandatory, such as marrying for status or security, is now optional. As a result, new "relationship archetypes" are emerging, this being one of the more viable and exciting ones, owing to its "wonderful mystical quality and powerful dynamism." That a manual now exists for such "relationship pioneers" is an acknowledgment that iconoclasm is often necessary, but rarely easy. Delivering on its promise to provide guidance on both the perks and pitfalls of such a union, the book provides convincing examples and anecdotes showing that a young man's exuberance may provide the "high voltage charge that can jump-start a woman's otherwise very orderly, settled and structured life." Most of the chapters, however, address the pitfalls, but not the reasons for them, other than briefly attributing them to society's benightedness or to cultural patriarchy. The book looks unsparingly at ways to work with the problems of financial disparity in the relationship, the awkwardness of social gatherings, and what obstacles to expect in dealing with the younger man's family, especially his mother who can often be a pit bull in disguise. Especially good are the bulleted lists of recommendations on how to react when judged by others, and tipsheets on interpreting and answering peoples' comments. What the book lacks is more information about the couples interviewed. The research tends to support financially successful career woman and well-centered young men whose intentions exist somewhere in the rarefied air of the ideal. Not all women are more successful than younger men, and while bad boys are discussed, the book won't entertain the idea of there being any Mrs. Robinsons. Overall, the book handles a timely, yet touchy, subject in a tasteful manner. Besides, since love is blind, who's to argue that "when it's the right match, age is not an issue"?
\ From The CriticsHere's a book for women of a certain age who know they aren't just cars whose "end value [is] based on an odometer reading." Brings and Winter disarmingly and persuasively contend that a woman has the right to be openly and lovingly involved with a man at least a decade younger regardless of the "ignorance, myths and false beliefs" of a society that sees such relationships as less than "A-list."\ Engagingly written by two successful career women, the book is based upon interviews with older women, younger men, their families, and experts in psychology, psychotherapy, social work, and relationship counseling. Based upon the premise that women have more choices today than in the past, the book argues that what was once mandatory, such as marrying for status or security, is now optional. As a result, new "relationship archetypes" are emerging, this being one of the more viable and exciting ones, owing to its "wonderful mystical quality and powerful dynamism." That a manual now exists for such "relationship pioneers" is an acknowledgment that iconoclasm is often necessary, but rarely easy.\ Delivering on its promise to provide guidance on both the perks and pitfalls of such a union, the book provides convincing examples and anecdotes showing that a young man's exuberance may provide the "high voltage charge that can jump-start a woman's otherwise very orderly, settled and structured life." Most of the chapters, however, address the pitfalls, but not the reasons for them, other than briefly attributing them to society's benightedness or to cultural patriarchy. The book looks unsparingly at ways to work with the problems of financial disparity in the relationship, the awkwardness of social gatherings, and what obstacles to expect in dealing with the younger man's family, especially his mother who can often be a pit bull in disguise. Especially good are the bulleted lists of recommendations on how to react when judged by others, and tipsheets on interpreting and answering peoples' comments.\ What the book lacks is more information about the couples interviewed. The research tends to support financially successful career woman and well-centered young men whose intentions exist somewhere in the rarefied air of the ideal. Not all women are more successful than younger men, and while bad boys are discussed, the book won't entertain the idea of there being any Mrs. Robinsons.\ Overall, the book handles a timely, yet touchy, subject in a tasteful manner. Besides, since love is blind, who's to argue that "when it's the right match, age is not an issue"?\ \ \
