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Love is a complicated thing. It has the power to help people come together and be great partners in life. There are some people that believe that age represents such a significant boundary that it's something that people cannot get past. Yet, research shows that while an age gap is significant for many people, a strong relationship can overcome this issue. Here are some things to consider when you find yourself in a relationship with an age gap.

At What Age Do Men and Women Fall in Love?

The first thing to think about when men and women fall in love is the age in which the relationships are formed. If you remember your teenage years, it's completely possible to fall in love when you're young. According to a study from the McNair Scholars Journal, most people at the age of 18 have already experienced love to a significant degree, even if it is unrequited at the time. So, there is no right age to fall in love, and you can expect to fall in love several times throughout your life if you're not successful in keeping a mate for the entire duration of your life. That being said, when you do fall in love, you aren't necessarily going to fall in love with someone that is your age, either. You could be older and love someone's carefree nature. Likewise, you could be younger and then fall in love with a person's maturity and stature in life. The bottom line is that age only affects your love life to the degree that you allow it to.

What Effect Does Age Difference Have on a Relationship?

There are a great number of people that believe that age can have a big impact on a relationship, and that is true to an extent. For example, we can all recognize the inherent difficulties that come with someone in their late 20s dating someone that is still in their teens. It's a little odd in most cases and can be predatory in others. There are still some effects that are seen in the relationships between older and younger people, though. For one thing, you will find that people in a relationship with someone that is younger than them tend to fail quickly or last for some time. The difference in age and goals can drive people apart, or it can be the thing that attracts a couple of people to one another and binds them together. Another effect that age difference can have on a relationship is in the desire for children and the longevity of the coupling. The older and younger person must both agree on several items before they commit to a lasting relationship. Of course, it's also worth discussing the physical aspect of a relationship. This article describes in more detail the topic of age inequality in relationships as it pertains to that topic.

Why Do Women Prefer Mature Men?

The question must be asked: why do women prefer mature men? While some armchair psychologists will say it has something to do with their issues with their father, the truth is more simplistic. According to an article by Psychology Today, younger women like older men for many reasons. Among them are their wisdom, experience, and maturity. Also, it holds true that older men tend to have better financial resources that the young men they must compete with. The ability to take women out on nice dates will keep them coming back. Obviously, many older men will value the attention of younger women that still have an air of naivete, beautiful, and youth about them. So, the partnership works both ways as far as most people are concerned. Older men also have the benefit of being able to engage in reproduction with younger women if they end up in a serious relationship. The same is hard to say when women are older, and the men are younger. However, one thing that both sexes have in common for pairing older to younger is that the experience of the older person is attractive.

How to Overcome Age-Related Stereotypes of Society

Unfortunately, there are many age-related stereotypes that society pins on relationships that are between older and younger people. While the temptation will always exist to tell people to buzz off, there will be people in your life that are seeking an explanation. The first thing that you can do to overcome the banter is by telling yourself and others that your relationship is based on a real emotional connection. You don't owe anyone an explanation about your love life, but if you want to give someone insight, show them how your love life works because of your common interests with your partner, including short or long-term relationship goals. According to an article from Harvard University, there are many other stereotypes that you can conquer in that fashion. For example, you can prove that it isn't just an old man being creepy towards a young woman. A caring relationship might not look the way that people expect, but that doesn't make it any less valid. Another issue is that people have to realize that older men and women are still active in all elements of romance- even the bedroom. Thus, it's up to people to engage in relationships that are emotionally conducive without shying away from the frank discussion of all aspects of relationships. That is the only way to get rid of stereotypes.

It's clear that successful relationships between older and younger people are not just possible, but they're happening all around us. As such, it is necessary to dispel the stereotypes and realize that these relationships might not be typical, but they're still worthy of love and respect. Whether you are looking for someone that is younger and has the spirit that you want, or if you're ready to meet someone that is more mature than people your own age, you can find partners using online dating sites for safety, comfort, and privacy.