# Guys: how old a woman is too old ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385 "2011-08-11T22:31:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/222 "2016-11-08T00:50:34Z")
My 40+ rule isn’t absolute, just a general guideline. I find Martha Stewart pretty hot these days after she started her ‘bad girl’ phase after prison and started hanging out with Snoop Doggy Dog. She is funny as hell too (and extremely rich). She probably would have pissed me off back when she was a young model but she is smokin’ now. I would hook up with her in a second. This is a very attractive historical fiction author not that far away that contacted me on a dating site a few years ago. She was mid-50’s at the time and I was in my late 30’s. She looked much younger than her age, very pretty, my type and very smart. I almost went out with her until she mentioned that she had a son not much younger than me. That threw me off enough to delay and then forget about it but I probably should have acted on it. Still, those types of examples are fairly rare. I barely notice the vast majority of women in a romantic way if they are over 35 although I can be bought just like some women can. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/223 "2016-11-08T05:05:40Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > NOT objectifying women would be a good start. You said “I can’t believe you guys admit to this” in response to my reply to a survey thready soliciting people’s opinions. This implies there’s something strange or beyond the pale about people posting their opinions, when asked about them, anonymously on an internet message board. Well, this is IMHO, and I posted my O. You might not think it’s very H, but you’re not required to share it. If you think there’s something inherently wrong with men having age preferences, you should be attacking the OP and everyone else who’s replied. ---
**Author:** ![SueBee12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SueBee12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SueBee12)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/224 "2017-02-19T04:57:11Z")
Depends on the person. If a man doesn’t mind an unexpected pregnancy go out with a young woman. If a man doesn’t mind gray hair, some wrinkles, menopause, then he will date older ladies. It just depends on the individual person. Everyone has different taste. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/225 "2017-02-20T18:57:09Z")
Male early 60’s here. Back a few years ago when life changed dramatically my concerns were in the order of is she cute, is BIM of decent proportion, then is she pleasant to be with. Once that was established the next criteria for me was did she have willing ruby lips. It was the last point that sunk more than a few before I found my present wife. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/226 "2017-02-20T19:08:11Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > Male early 60’s here. Back a few years ago when life changed dramatically my concerns were in the order of is she cute, is BIM of decent proportion, then is she pleasant to be with. Once that was established the next criteria for me was did she have willing ruby lips. > > It was the last point that sunk more than a few before I found my present wife. Yes, unwilling would be a deal-breaker. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/227 "2017-02-20T21:22:26Z")
Well considering that all of the women considered when this thread started are now 6 1/2 years older…they may have fallen off the list for some. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/228 "2017-02-20T21:39:15Z")
I think [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0qjbCb8DWc) answers the OP’s question. ---
**Author:** ![Birish88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Birish88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birish88)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/230 "2017-10-27T23:54:42Z")
Hi.im 30 and i always prefer a woman that is older.my last girlfriend was 49 that was 3 years ago.a woman from 40 years up is hotter than any woman in there 20s.with an older woman tgere is no bs and straight to the point.they kmow what sexy is alot better than 20s and 30s.and as for the msg the guy wrote saggy.ur a asshole where u think ur balls gona be when ur 50 odd.older is sexier.that my opinion.each to their own.all in the eye of the beholder ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/231 "2017-10-27T23:58:55Z")
> [@Romeo\_and\_Whatsherface](#): > > I’m especially interested in getting the male point of view, but I’d welcome the female opinions, too. How much does a woman’s age factor into whether men find her attractive? Probably few hetero males don’t appreciate an eyeful of a good-looking 20-year-old woman, but at what approximate age, if any, do women stop being secret-ogle worthy? The older I get, the more the Rule of 7 seems to be appropriate. Yeah, I’ll sneak an appreciative peek at a smokin’ hawt young lady, but I’m simply appreciating beauty when I do. For me, the Rule of 7 works out to 41, and I find women in their early to mid 40s to be quite attractive. And I’m married to a smokin’ hawt lady that is…I’m just gonna say significantly older than that, so I haven’t really found an upper limit yet. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/232 "2017-10-28T07:48:14Z")
Unless of course, she’s a zombie. Like this thread ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/233 "2017-10-28T10:36:47Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > Unless of course, she’s a zombie. Like this thread This is the ninth or tenth resurrection of this zombie, in a little over six years since the OP. It just keeps shuffling along. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/234 "2017-10-28T10:50:23Z")
That’s ok, it’s an interesting subject. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/235 "2017-10-28T15:55:25Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I keep noticing men flavoring their opinions about sexual preferences with “Le sigh, most women can’t understand/don’t realize/refuse to accept that men like X”. Am I the only one seeing this? It’s become obnoxious. Individual guys have little business talking about what _most_ men like, let alone what most women understand. > > All other things being equal, guys will find younger women more attractive than older women. Duh. But the OP asks how old is too old for them, and that’s a question that factors in more than just _their_ sexual preference. Unless we’re talking about men who are fine with staying single, what also has to be taken into account is their chances of scoring with much the kind of women they are most attracted to. > > The average middle-age may lust after 20 year olds more than his contemporaries, but unless the guy is exceptional in the ways that count (including luck), odds are he will have a much harder time finding a 20 year old GF than a 40 yo. For a man who realistically wants a relationship, he’s gonna have to do a feasibility assessment: if chasing after nubile maidens results in nothing but wasted effort and/or heartbreak, then nubile maidens aren’t the best investment of his time and energy. He will need to consider older women, even if that means being with someone less hot and sexy. This is all true, but “a much harder time” doesn’t equate to “zero chance”: there are quite a few young women, as well as young men for that matter, who prefer older boyfriends/girlfriends. Your hypothetical 40-year old (I’m still some years away from 40 myself, but I’d probably be in that boat) simply has to work harder, accept more chance of failure, etc. if he wants to land a 20 year old, but maybe he decides the reward is worth the risk. Economics also plays into the situation: a 40 year old who’s willing to support the 20 year old financially, to some degree or another, is probably going to find dating a lot easier than a 40 year old who isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/236 "2017-10-28T17:16:52Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > A lot of how a person’s skin ages seems to be down to genetics and smoking. Snark! Never been with an older (60+) woman who had “old skin” from smoking. They may smell like smoke, they may smoke at every opportunity, but the skin usually doesn’t reflect the smoking habit. Older women may smoke like chimneys, but I don’t see that in the skin. (From someone who has dated older women who smoked a lot over the last 30 years.) ---
**Author:** ![HappyandBlessed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@HappyandBlessed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HappyandBlessed)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/238 "2019-01-04T19:07:42Z")
In my opinion age is just a number. I met my husband when I was 24 and he was 42, we were married 2 years later, and had an exceptional marriage lasting 31 years until my husband died at 75, I was 57. My husband was always an active, energetic, and happy man right up until the moment he died. I have struggled with my weight my entire life, and was significantly overweight for a good part of our marriage; yet my husband never found me unattractive - because he was looking at the \*\*REAL \*\*me, what was inside - which he found to be beautiful. Our love life was frequent and pleasurable right up until he entered the hospital - probably because we weren’t “having sex,” we were making love. Interestingly, my brother is married to a woman who is 14 years older than he is; he is now 58 to her 72. They have been married for 27 years and still going strong. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/239 "2019-01-04T19:36:01Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > This is the ninth or tenth resurrection of this zombie, in a little over six years since the OP. It just keeps shuffling along. 🙂 Make that tenth or eleventh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/240 "2019-01-04T19:51:48Z")
Ok, somebody needs to make the obvious comment. Age may be just a number, but the use of purple comic sans is a dealbreaker. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/241 "2019-01-04T19:57:22Z")
This needs to die again. Disgusting zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/242 "2019-01-04T20:46:34Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I couldn’t agree more. I think it’s a myth that guys in their 50s secretly lust after 20-somethings. Now, of course you find an attractive 20 year old, well, attractive. But when you have about 3 minutes of conversation with her it’s clear that the age gap affects how you look at life. When I was 39 I dated a 27-year-old. I mean, that’s not THAT big a difference, but it was quickly apparent we were just too far apart on a lot of stuff. She was a gorgeous an and funny, smart woman, but there was no way it was going to work past a month or two. Had I been 49? 54? It is to laugh. There are just some things that make a real relationship impossible. But hey - why does maybe being older mean a lady has to be gross? [Gwen Stefani is seven years older than her husband.](https://www.google.com/search?q=blake+shelton+gwen+stefani&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS794US794&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=F9EOaS0OOZ4MKM%252CspfC3eS_WaTMUM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kQCUam50SL5RKj2n7Rd_yW7hMmu1Q&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiE_oCv_tTfAhUnneAKHcU9BqYQ_h0wInoECAQQBg&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=F9EOaS0OOZ4MKM:) [Lisa Loeb is eleven years older than her husband.](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS794US794&biw=1920&bih=938&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=5cQvXOLCL4Lj_AaCrbi4Aw&q=lisa+loeb+roey+hershkovitz&oq=lisa+loeb+roey&gs_l=img.3.0.0.109630.113397..115685...2.0..0.100.1292.13j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i67j0i8i30j0i24.2HlXmvUa3L4#imgrc=3VPt36qj8jppFM:) Yowza! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385/243 "2019-01-04T21:08:15Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > This needs to die again. Disgusting zombie thread. Are you saying it’s too old? [ETA: Seriously, I totally agree with you… it’s cringeworthy, like old racist children’s story books.] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-old-a-woman-is-too-old/592385.md?page=13)