A new study being reported about reveals some shocking news about women. Get ready for this; cougars, a word coined to describe an older woman who is on the hunt for younger men, don’t actually exist. The study, being reported about everywhere from Time magazine to the New York Post, claims the cougar craze has become mythical in proportion to the actual number of women looking to date younger men.
Psychology researcher, Michael Dunn, conducted the study by analyzing over 20,000 singles ads from a variety of popular dating sites around the world. During all of his research, Dunn was unable to find a substantial number of middle-aged women looking for younger men. Most women over the age of 40 were looking for men their own age. Dunn was also unable to find a sizable number of “cubs”, younger men looking to date older women. What he did find was the social norm we have grown used to, a lot of older men looking for younger women.
Dunn believes the cougar craze has become popular from all of the media attention shows like "Cougar Town" and celebrities like Madonna and Demi Moore have gotten in recent years for dating younger men. But just because a handful of celebrities are doing it does not mean women are rushing out to find younger men. Dunn says, “I do believe the cougar phenomenon is a myth and, yes, a media construct.”
Though Dunn’s research has proven convincing to some, a lot of women are not buying it. A 2003 study from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that 34 percent of women aged 40 plus were dating younger men. Valerie Gibson, Toronto-based jounalist, thinks the AARP study is more accurate than Dunn’s because it shows the percentage of women that are currently involved with men “as opposed to what they’re socially conditioned to tell dating sites they’re interested in.”
What do you think of the latest study proving cougars don’t exist?
Cougars definitely exist but i believe you began a relationship with someone who shares your interest and that you are attracted to. Age doesn't matter at all when you think about it. as long as you are attracted to and respected by your partner it doesn't matter. :)
konigin::
on Aug 25, 2010
If i was older I'd want a young man
Supernovae::
on Aug 27, 2010
I think Dun's methodology (using sketchy self-report data) is not very scientific. AARP did a similar study and had much different results. I just hate poorly-designed social science experiments.
redshoesnob42::
on Aug 27, 2010
I think there may be some truth to the cougar. Women at 40 now, look 30. Combine that with the confidence you gain at 40 and the financial independece, it make sense. I don't think women are going out in droves to date younger men, but it happens more than we might think.
summerchaser::
on Sep 21, 2010
cougar is not a myth.......... and been around a long time........ just not as public............
my mother who was actually born in l914...... had papers to say she was born in l919..... divorced and married.........my father....... born l924.....
and they loved each other till his death.... and she lived another 12 years and now is with him again......
no one ever knew my mother was older than my father......
it didnt matter....... and really shouldnt matter.......
with that said............ i dont want to ever be next to someone who looks better than i..... but........ if it works like my parents......
go for it............go for love......... not age......
they met and married she 32....with two kids........ he 22..... no kids.......married 37 plus years..
justmauid::
on Oct 31, 2010
If you love someone, age becomes irrelivant.
mommasuesue::
on Nov 15, 2010
OK I am an older woman And I have been married 3 times to younger men at least 9 years younger than me ! Men come to us and its not fair that the media is focusing only on cougars !
