It was the summer wedding of tennis star, Venus Williams that stirred up the story. It’s the growing trend of older women getting married to younger men.
Venus Williams at 45 got married to a 37 year old man. She boldly signed a prenuptial agreement with him.
A popular Nollywood actor married an actress 10 years his senior.
Another frontline singer got married to a lifestyle professional 9 years older than him.
Recently, popular celebrity blogger and entrepreneur in her early 40s also got married to a man in his mid 30s.
Seems societal norms and values have been shifting with the advancement of technology and movement of peoples across continents.
There are now more relationships across races, ethnic diversity and ranges. Older men hitherto were the purveyors of liaisons with young nubile females.
The regular norm was for husbands to be much older, wiser and accomplished than their wives.
However, that phenomenon has turned with the advancement of successful professional women.
Women are getting married much later and find nothing wrong in picking suitors from the pool of younger men.
These women have also successfully produced offsprings for their much younger husbands.
Tennis superstar, Serena Williams and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle also belong to this group with mere 3 year differences from their spouses.
So we went to town to sample the opinion of single older women still desirous of matrimony:
Abike: ‘I can’t date younger men because of their immaturity. I like older and mature men. Marriage is a No No for me with a man a year younger than me. Not my spec.
Tania: I can’t imagine me submitting to a younger man. Strangely enough, I get propositions from younger colleagues at work. But, I don’t ever take them serious.
Chidinma: I attended such a wedding recently. My friend got married to a younger man and they looked good together. Maybe I should be receptive to the younger men around me.
Sona: My cousin is married to a man younger than her by 4 years and he’s confident and self assured. You wouldn’t even know considering his demeanor and accomplishments. But I can’t really respect someone younger than me. It works for her but it’s not my kettle of fish.
Social scientists highlighted some of the disadvantages of younger men and older women relationships. They include extended family pressures, childbearing issues, ageing/early menopause and financial inclusivity.
Can the army of single professional women in their 30s-40s climb down from their horses and embrace life with their younger male counterparts?
Can you embrace this trend? Can our parents welcome younger suitors for their daughters?
Can parents accept older wives for their sons?
Please join this conversation with your comments and feedback on this or other issues to mooborscounsellingroom@gmail.com.
By Mubo Okosun
Women’s Editor.
