Home > Student Life > Significant others can get a little too cozy for some roommates
Sex in the UniverCity
Students debate whether dating younger or older is OK in college
BY SHANA SECOR
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
iISSUE: 78/23
You are a girl in Florida with your friends over spring break. The club that you are at is 18 plus and has free drinks for ladies until midnight. “Let me see your hips swing” comes on and before you know it, you are being pulled into the middle of the dance floor by an overly attractive male, whom you have never met.
After three intense songs, you both make your way to the bar. “You should buy me a drink,” the excellent new dancer whispers in your ear. Getting slightly offended, you push him away and say, with a smile, “Why don’t you buy me a drink?” “Because I can’t, I am only 18,” he mutters back. Since you turned 21 only, uhmm … two years ago, the feeling is now slightly awkward. How did an attractive, great dancer with an unbelievable exotic tan turn into a dud so fast?
When guys date younger girls, it is not that unusual. It may be because guys are said to be less mature, or maybe guys like girls that look younger. Regardless of the reason why society accepts that men date younger women, there is a new trend: women dating younger men. This trend started to get popular when Demi Moore started dating Ashton Kutcher. Even though this new way of dating has hit Hollywood by storm, women dating younger men is still somewhat frowned upon. “I have done the age difference thing,” junior Chelsa Nelson said. “It doesn’t seem to work out because, if both people aren’t on the same maturity level, it just doesn’t work.”
Age difference can be a huge factor in people’s relationships. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter when the two people are just a year or two apart. “It depends on how great of an age difference there is,” sophomore Carolyn Hartmann said. “It can be hard to have something in common with someone that is say, 10 years older than you.” There are certain women that feel like they get along better with men that are older. “I feel like I have more in common with older guys,” said junior Hailey Edwards. “But I know someone that is dating a younger guy and they get along great! It really depends on the people.”
So what do guys have to say about this? Wouldn’t you think that they would want to date a ‘cougar’ with more experience? “I dated an older girl once,” sophomore Cameron said. “It was a little awkward because we didn’t hang out with the same people. The only time that we could ever hang out was when we were alone, and that got old after a while.”
Age can be just a number within consideration. If the two people get along well and want the same things in life, age can seem like something silly to get so worked up about. “[Age shouldn’t be an issue] as long as people are at the same spot in life,” said senior Amanda Lundmark. “Sometimes I will tease my friends for dating younger guys, but it is all in good fun. As long as they are happy, age shouldn’t matter.”
