Do women, generally, value their youth more than men?

Question

I mean you see all those ads and products for women to "look younger and beautiful" and a lot of women tend to lie about their age. I've noticed theres an abundant amount of women on here who say they are in the 20-30 age range. Hmmmm... lol. That was a joke.

Us guys really just don't concern ourselves with that stuff, at least not as much. We live our lives and let nature take it's course. We all age. No amount of makeup is gonna change that.

Sorry if I may have offended anyone with this question.

Answer 1

Yes. I will be 29 again for the 8th time in October.

Well, you guys seem to talk about trading us for younger types, so you know. If we can stay looking and acting young, maybe you won't want to trade. :)

Answer 2

The sad thing is, women can't look younger. Aging is more than just getting wrinkles. An older woman without them is still going to look like a woman her age but without wrinkles. Even though I'm in my late 40s and don't have wrinkles, I really don't look the same way I did when I was in my 20s. My face looks thinned out due to the loss of the baby fat I used to have on my cheeks. I no longer have the dewy glow associated with young people. Instead of lying about my age and trying to pretend I'm something I'm not, I just focus on trying to look as good as I can for my age.

Answer 3

I think women feel we have to accept the reality that we are always judged according to our appearance in a way that men still are not (although that's changing; men are increasingly judged on appearance).

And not only are we judged on our appearance, we live in a culture in which younger women are perceived as more attractive. Women usually grow up being aware of being looked at by men.  When men start looking at us less often as we age, it's very noticeable.  It's not so much that we want to be looked at (although some of us do) but that we know that being looked at less often will be accompanied by other factors that affect middle-aged women - like being seen in a mothering role, for example.  Not all women feel comfortable about these changes.

And then there's always the slight worry that our male partners may feel less attracted to us and may want to be with younger women instead.  Most men are wonderful and continue to love their wives as they age together, but as the attractiveness gap widens (between me and the latest cute young actress) it can feel a bit weird.

I'm now nearly 40 and I find it very strange to hear myself starting a story with "When I was your age," and ending it with "and that was a lot of money in those days."  I can't quite believe I'm not 20 any more.  But I don't believe make up will stop me looking my true age!

Answer 4

You see those ads and products because it's a youth-oriented world, and women happen to be the ones most affected by the physical and psychological manifestations of age.  On a biological level, age makes a difference because women's reproductive years are limited while men can continue to procreate into and beyond their '60s.  So, it makes sense for men to seek younger women.  

Women who are older seek ways to sustain and maintain the illusion of time not slipping away.  They feed that multi-billion dollar industry of selling youth to desperate people--mainly women, but increasingly men.  We all age, but some of us are allowed to age.  Hate to cite the tabloid media, but "People" declared Sean Connery "The Sexiest Man Alive" one year.  He was 75.  I couldn't imagine a female equivalent.  

Answer 5

This simply details that women realize their value is in their looks, and their looks usually fade in age--  

Answer 6

Well you can't expect women to fall in love with men who are much older than them and not so good looking when they are young & beautiful.

Answer 7

It's an interesting observation, but it's not quite accurate.  There is a lot of societal pressure on women to retain their youth.  Part of that is marketing of companies who stand to beneft financially from this issue.  Anthropologists have also found that most species like the look of youth, so you can also say that it's a primordial instinct.  

On the other hand it's typically a man who has a mid-life crisis and not a woman.

Answer 8

No.  Some men value youth in women more, and some women bow to the pressure.  I wouldn't want to go back.  Why should I when I can just date younger men!

Answer 9

Oh please, when men hit middle age, it doesn't seem to bother them to take a young bimbo lover because they try to re-live their youth.

Answer 10

Society judges women on their looks, while men are judged by their accomplishments.

A woman can be rich, smart and successful in life, but most will still judge her solely on her appearance. Sad but true.

Answer 11

I'd have to agree with you on this one.

Most "anti-aging" products are geared towards women. You never really hear of super popular s**y older bachlorette Hollywood actresses....not ones that compare to George Clooney anyways.

*sighs*

Answer 12

They do, but only because an older woman is not considered a healthy mating partner. That's the biological part.

As for women themselves, they know men's fickle habit of putting them on the scrapheap after 40 still goes on, so they fight the process.

Answer 13

i think they do cling to youth more. i am i 19 yr old girl and i already feel old...im joking...kind of. i think that women get less s**y with age and men seem to get more s**y. its unfair but on the other hand i think that hot young women get more power from there sexiness than hot young men. and if you think about what it s**y for each s*x than it makes sense. women-soft skin, firm b*****s, wrinkle free. men-ruggedness, strength, experience. and lots of girls have father issues so there attracted to older men too. its all about what the opposite s*x finds attractive.