Parenthood and durability of age-hypogamous intimate relationships
Issues related to children – such as a woman’s reproductive abilities or a man’s ability to provide material comfort to his family – are frequently presented as factors influencing (heterosexual) individuals to choose intimate relationships where the man is older. However, few researchers have investigated the lived experiences of individuals invested in age-hypogamous intimate relationships – i.e. relationships where the woman is older than her male partner. Therefore, it is unclear whether these themes actually affect the longevity of such relationships and if so, how they affect them. Drawing on 55 semi-structured interviews with women aged 30-60 who date younger men, I explore in this article their perspective regarding the way issues related to children influence the development of their age-hypogamous intimate relationships. Results show that in the context of age-hypogamous dating, this theme does influence women’s choices and it is perceived mainly as an obstacle to the development and sustainability of their relationships. Specifically, the (perceived) biological limitations of female fertility as well as younger men’s (perceived) relationship to coupledom and parenthood are seen by women as complicating their ability to develop long-term relationships with younger men. Few women reported younger men’s (in)ability to offer material comfort to his family as an obstacle to the longevity of age-hypogamous intimate relationships.