First, let me say that as a woman on the early side of thirtysomething, I’ve experienced nearly every aspect of this discussion … except from Sofa King’s point of view, of course.
I’ve been a hot 15 year old redhead (in the Catholic uniform, thank you! haha) who was a notorious flirt. Why? Hell, because it is empowering! What a heady feeling to know that someone twice your age is looking and appreciating the way you look! Does that mean I had low self-esteem or some other psycho-babble issue? Perhaps … but since I grew up to be a healthy, well-adjusted adult, I suppose that’s alright.
I dated younger men for awhile … had a short, steamy fling with a 17 year-old when I was 21 … had a longer, steamier fling with a 18 year-old when I was 22. I then “graduated” to dating older men … and spent quite a few years in the company of men at least ten years my senior.
Unlike most of my friends (who married early), I met my husband while in my late twenties … and, unlike those same friends, I’m very satisfied with my life. I’ve had such rich and varied experiences, I don’t feel as if I’m missing out on anything by “settling down.”
My point? If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, men are going to look … and they’re going to be tempted. And not to get all Stuart Smalley, but hey … that’s … okay! They looked when I was 15 … and (hopefully) they’ll look when I’m 35. Unlike our young poster, I wasn’t offended by older men “ogling” me … however, there was a fine line and I knew when not to cross it.
When she’s older, wiser … and, sadly, perhaps a little more cynical, she’ll realize that the majority of men are thinking exactly what Sofa King wrote … most of them aren’t nearly as witty or humerous though.
Irish Rogue
Oh … and I’ve still got my school uniform. I wore it to work last year for my agency’s Halloween costume contest … and won. haha 