Middle Aged Women: Driving Around In Miatas With Blonde Young Surfer Dudes?

The Arizona Republic says dating much younger partners is no longer the sole province of middle-aged male dentists:

35 percent of women want to date younger men, and 34 percent are. Three percent of women date men 15 or more years younger, 5 percent date men 10 to 14 years younger, and 11 percent date men 5 to 9 years younger.

The article by Barbara Yost and Susan Felt says that part of the reason may be because now they can:

Women are keeping themselves trim and attractive and are staying sexual into old age. They have careers, higher incomes, a wealth of experience and good connections.

And the author of "The Juicy Tomatoes Guide to Ripe Living After 50" says it's a function of increased opportunity and generational attitudes:

"We have choices. And we think we should have as many choices as men," she said.

And as baby boomer women enter their 50s and 60s, no one is going to tell them what to do.

"This generation is not going to say, 'You don't get to do that,' " said Swartz, 61, whose husband is also 61. "They're going to keep pushing (the boundaries)."

Younger men are attracted to older women's sexual experience and independence.

If the relationship is serious, it may still founder on lingering "you can't date someone that age" mores or contrasting views on whether to have children.

But that's farther down the road for many. As one person told the reporters, "Younger guys are more fun."

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In the "I didn't know there was a book about that" department, it turns out there are several in addition to the "Juicy Tomatoes" title above:

"Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men" (Valerie Gibson)

Older Women, Younger Men