At long last, match.com solves the mystery of why men date younger women. 8 men reveal: “Why I date younger women”:

Ever feel like all the men your age are dating women half your age? OK, maybe not half your age, but you get the idea. What makes men attracted to younger women? Is it just about looks and our youth-centric culture? Well, that’s part of it. But you might be surprised to learn the real reasons that go way beyond physical attraction: as it turns out, men are a bit more complicated than that!

I’m guessing it is because older women have had a long time to think about how they want a man to treat them. Lets see if I’m right:

It’s all about the law of averages as you get older

“When you reach your late thirties, it’s not so much that dating a younger woman becomes more attractive, it’s just harder not to date them. The law of averages means that proportionately fewer women your age are single. But dating a woman in her twenties when you’re approaching 40 is also less demanding; you’re not faced with the same requirements to make a decision about your future. When your new girlfriend is 36, she expects you’re thinking about the next few years, not just the next few dates.”

— Colin, 38, Chicago, IL

Well, not exactly I guess. It sounds like they would prefer to be dating older, less hot women, but no matter how hard they try they can’t find any. Plus the hot young women keep throwing themselves in the way! I really feel for these guys. Where have all the older less hot women gone? Now they have to settle for young hotties. That and older women want commitment for what they gave to other guys for free when they were younger and hotter.

Lets see what the next man thinks:

Their carefree attitudes make younger women more appealing

“I’d say the allure is that younger women are less judgmental and less set in their ways. They don’t have a laundry list of what they want in a partner, a career or even life just yet. Younger women are more friendly, I suppose. I think that kind of attitude appeals to thirty-something guys who want a relationship to really be on their terms.”

— Larry, 35, Edison, NJ

Wait, maybe I was right after all.

They let me embrace my inner goofball on dates

“Honestly, younger women are sometimes more open to having goofy good times than a woman who has a few years on her. You can invite them to the midnight showing of Kung Fu Hustle without getting a skeptical look.”

— Mitchell, 39, Baltimore, MD

Sounds like more of the same. Women are more fun before they have a decade or more to think about what men should do for them. But can that be all?

Fewer years of dating equals less emotional baggage to carry

“The appealing thing about younger women is their outlook on life. They tend to be untainted by experiences that have hardened older women. For example, when a woman’s been lied to a lot after years of dating, she always thinks you’re lying to her, too. And that’s a turn-off. Younger women are less cynical, and that’s a big draw.”

— Alan*, 46 New York, NY

For those taking notes, evidently hotter women with less baggage are more enjoyable to date than the other way around. Perhaps. I think this guy might be jumping to conclusions though.

The next man weighs in:

Dating without an agenda means having more fun together

“What makes a younger woman a good catch? She’s not itching to have a ring on her finger. She’s interested in the here and now, in going out, in having fun. It may sound like a cliché, but it’s reality. I’m not anti-marriage, I’m just anti-agenda. A younger woman seems more willing to let things take their natural course.”

— Roger, 35, New York, NY

Yet another man who thinks that younger, hotter, less demanding women are preferable. Could there be some truth to this, or is he just compensating for having a small penis?

Here’s the next man:

The ego boost helps me maintain my health and vitality

“When a guy reaches a certain age, he worries he will see his youth and vitality wane. A younger woman reaffirms for me that I’ve still got it going on.”

— Mike, 40, Orlando, FL

Ha! That proves it. Men don’t really prefer younger, hotter, nicer, less demanding women. They only date them because of their fragile male egos!

Well, we already know the answer is because the men are insecure, but we may as well hear the last one out just to be polite:

Impressing a younger date is easier

“One advantage of dating a younger woman is that you can play ‘cruise director’ — i.e., show her all your secret favorite places that she probably hasn’t experienced yet. They’re easier to impress and very willing to be escorted around. Women like it when you have a plan and it’s well-executed.”

— Bill, 33, New York, NY

Sure they are easier to impress. They haven’t had much time to think about how men should treat them!

The author is right, men really are complicated!

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