It's pretty common to date someone who's a few years younger or older than you, and often the age difference is no big deal. Sometimes, maturity levels match, even when ages don't. But when the age difference is bigger, there are other things to consider. We're here to help you find more support & resources.
You may face stigma around dating older women. For many, a significant age gap is a concern, and dating someone much older than you might cause people to ask questions, remove themselves from your life, or judge you. If you face these challenges, family or couples therapy might be beneficial to address them.
For those who'd like to put a number to things, usually, a gap of 1-7 years can be considered an acceptable age difference between adults. People whose ages are within 1-3 years typically do not see much of an age difference, while years 4-7 might begin to feel a little bit more pronounced.
Age should not be a barrier to love and companionship. There is no reason why a relationship between an older woman and younger man cannot work long term, provided both partners are committed and willing to put in the work.
Falling in love with a woman 10, 15, 20 years older, or more can be exhilarating. These so-called age-gap relationships with the woman as the senior partner are more accepted now than in previous times, some observers say. Even so, making the relationship last involves tackling some thorny -- and sensitive -- issues.
A relationship age gap bigger than 10 years often comes with its own set of issues. “While there are always exceptions to rules, a good rule to remember is that dating someone more than 10 years older will present challenges now or later that add to the preexisting challenges any relationship has,” he says.
Close in age exceptions
A 14 or 15 year old can consent to sexual activity as long as the partner is less than five years older and there is no relationship of trust, authority or dependency or any other exploitation of the young person.
Most people don't think age-gapped relationships are a big deal. A 2008 study found that couples only face societal disapproval when their age difference is over ten years—I'm in the clear! Woo! Even big age gaps tend to become less taboo as people get older, and it certainly matters at what age the couple met.
The “creepiness rule” states that the youngest you should date is “half your age plus seven.” The less commonly used corollary is that the oldest you should date is “subtract seven from your age and double it.” According to this rule, society should accept a 50 year old man dating a 32 year old woman.
Many people assume that age-gap couples fare poorly when it comes to relationship outcomes. But some studies find the relationship satisfaction reported by age-gap couples is higher. These couples also seem to report greater trust and commitment and lower jealousy than similar-age couples.
Across many different studies, a shorter age gap or a longer age gap is associated with worse health and developmental outcomes. Research suggests that an age gap of 27 to 32 months may be associated with the best health outcomes for mother and child.
In fact, it's quite normal. Most college students are around the ages of 18-22, so it's not uncommon to see a 21 year old and a 18 year old in a relationship. Plus, the age gap between the two is very small. Both ages most likely share similar maturity, interests, and goals as well.
The truth is, there is no ideal or appropriate age gap in a relationship. Whether it's a 20 year age gap relationship or a 5 year age gap relationship, there will be both challenges and benefits to your situation.
Be genuine and make her feel good about herself.
Talk about something that she does really well and give her props for it. If you want to compliment her appearance or something physical about her, go with something specific so it feels more genuine.
Nine to 10 months age gap is obviously the smallest gap you can have, and can be quite tough but rewarding at the same time.
Is it socially acceptable for a 20 year old to date a 30 year old? Not wrong as long as it's an equal relationship. It isn't rare for a woman to date a man 10 years younger than her. It isn't even rare for a woman to date a man 20 years younger than her.
Neither person is a minor. But it could be borderline in terms of life experience and maturity. If the 18-year old is still in high school, while the 24-year old has had several years of experience in working and living as an independent adult, then it increases the *gap* between them.
Studies have found partners with more than a ten-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.
A 2020 large-scale mate preference study across 45 countries showed that men prefer younger and attractive women while women prefer older and financially stable men (1).
It's Normal. It becomes odd when she just turned 15, and you're turning 18 in a little bit — where you're a senior & she's a freshman. It isn't crazy — but it can make protective parents concerned. That's really the deciding factor.
The purpose of statutory rape laws is to help prevent teenage pregnancies. Generally speaking, an 18-year-old can date a 16-year-old provided that the relationship is not sexual. If the relationship becomes sexual, then it could be illegal depending on the state.
It wouldn't be illegal for someone who's 16 to have a relationship with someone who is 30 - unless that person is their teacher or in a position of authority. - feel equal, safe and trust one another. It's also important to feel comfortable telling family and friends about the relationship.
The 19-year-old will not get in trouble for dating the 17-year-old. But, if the relationship turns sexual, then the 19-year-old can get charged with sex crimes like: sexual assault. statutory rape charges.
It's not only not weird, it's really, really common. The real thing to consider (since you're both legally adults) is what life experience you have in common. At 18, you've either recently graduated or are a high school senior.