| In the 1967 classic film The Graduate, Dustin | | | | While in days gone by no one really thought twice |
| Hoffman says the lines that are now part of our pop | | | | about older men younger women the same cannot |
| culture; "Mrs. Robinson, I think you're trying to seduce | | | | be said about mature women. Society back then |
| me. Aren't you?" The answer as the movie unfolded | | | | really gave these ladies the blues for daring to act |
| was of course a resounding yes. The implication was | | | | like their male counterparts when it came to |
| that an older worldly sophisticated woman basically | | | | relationships. |
| needed a young innocent boy toy because her | | | | While some of the name labeling stigmas still exist, |
| husband was no longer up to the job. | | | | things have improved by a marked difference. It's |
| While times have changed the term Mrs. Robinson is | | | | only natural that some of these women who have a |
| now part of our vocabulary and refers to any older | | | | direct or passing acquaintance with those earlier times |
| woman (also know as cougars) seeking younger men. | | | | would feel free or at least more relaxed to take |
| What goes unnoticed is that the inference is still | | | | advantage of the changing attitudes. |
| there. Namely that the only reason this older woman | | | | 3. Because They Want To |
| is seeking to be in a relationship with a younger man | | | | No great mystery. Two consenting adults decide to |
| is to fill some physical and emotional void in their own | | | | have a relationship. They go through the usual |
| lives otherwise why would she even bother? | | | | courting rituals or dispense with them altogether if |
| Why she would bother is for the same reason older | | | | they wish. Either way they have made their decision. |
| men date younger women but nobody raises an | | | | No one has been tricked or trapped into anything. |
| eyebrow. | | | | Both parties go into the relationship with their eyes |
| 1. Desirability | | | | wide open. |
| Far from emptiness on her part, older women see a | | | | We have come a long way from the shock the |
| younger guy that they think looks good so like any | | | | audiences of 1967 must have felt when The |
| other female they go for it. They may have been in | | | | Graduate premiered. For better or worse our society |
| a previous relationship but at this point in time they | | | | has gotten a lot more open and accepting towards |
| are unattached. Both parties like what they see and | | | | older women younger man relationships. |
| before you know it a relationship has blossomed. It | | | | However the fact that people are using a movie |
| has no more the sinister overtones for older women | | | | character (complete with roughly the same |
| than it does for older men or anyone else for that | | | | motivations and sense of emptiness) from a bygone |
| matter. | | | | era to describe current relationships means that we |
| 2. The Times | | | | still have a ways to travel. |