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The last guy I dated was almos ...
Dating / 5:15 PM - Wednesday August 20, 2008

The last guy I dated was almost 4 years younger than I am, alot of people in our lives had problems

The last guy I dated was almost 4 years younger than I am, alot of people in our lives had problems with the age difference.
Now I have casually started dated someone 6 years younger than me, but this time it's a girl. And nobody has any problems here. Why the double standard? Why can I date a younger woman but not a younger man? And she is 2 full years younger than he was.

- Asked by Female, 29-35

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Women openly dating younger men is a newer phenomenon and many are still uncomfortable breaking what has been a standardized norm of men being 1-6 years older than their female partner.
And most people are still uncomfortable addressing any kind of same sex partnering whatsoever so the conversation about age difference doesn't come up.
And opposing genders bring up thoughts about exploitation wherein same sex pairings don't prompt that thought.

- Response by joybird, A Creative, Female, 46-55, Rochester, Who Cares?

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a few possibilities.
1. boys mature slower than girls
2. most people don't have experience dating same sex.

~LB

- Response by laughingbandit, A Player, Male, 29-35, Toronto, Executive

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Why the double standard?

Honey, this is 2008. Open your eyes. There are double standards EVERYWHERE.

- Response by runner, A Career Man, Male, 29-35, Dallas, Executive

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I think they say it's okay because they don't feel comfortable talking about the whole relationship, including that you have a relationship with a girl now, versus the man before. I think they just are trying to avoid the entire conversation, so they're taking the easy way out by saying the age difference doesn't matter.

- Response by An Alternative Girl, Female, 29-35, Who Cares?

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It shouldn't matter either way. My honey is four years younger then I am. No one in my life has a problem with it. Maybe people should mind there own business Huh!!!

- Response by pdkraft, A Creative, Female, 29-35, Buffalo, Other Profession

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It's not so much the age difference or the double standard as much as not wanting to be politically incorrect about same-sex dating. A great many people still feel awkward commenting on same-sex dating in anything other than positive tones because they really don't know how to act or react. In many circles it is still an unknown. Don't spend time thinking about what your friends think and why are you discussing ages anyway? You should be discussing similarities and activities enjoyed - unless your dates are jail bait. Other than that, their age shouldn't enter into the discussion and certainly not during introductions. In my circle, announcing your date's age is just not done - ever.

- Response by agesago, A Cool Mom, Female, 46-55, Transportation

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