To ask if most straight men are attracted much younger women?

I'm in my 50s and I work at a university. There are literally thousands of young women here. I notice those who are unusually pretty but to no more extent than I notice the ones who are unusually tall, or have a great hairstyle, or are wearing a cool band t-shirt. Much the same with the male students tbh. I'm not thinking about wanting to get into bed with any of them because ick. They're all younger than my own DCs.

I've pretty much sworn off dating but when I do idly think about the kind of women I could see myself with, they're all at least in their 40s.

Me too, attraction changes to suit us as we age.
I'm 45, I am in okay shape, I'd have zero interest in a man 20 years younger than me.
DH is 3 years younger.
When I find someone attractive they're in my age bracket.

This is probably the most depressing chart I’ve ever had the displeasure of seeing.

This was taken from research done by OKcupid.

@Capillaryaction I disagree, and actually I think my idea of “attractive” has changed as I’ve got older.

Yes, obviously if I look at a photo of a man aged 20 and a man aged 50, then the younger one is likely to be more objectively attractive. No wrinkles, nice hair, not greying, not overweight, fresh faced, bright eyes etc.

But in terms of actually fancying someone, finding them attractive, imagining a relationship with them, or even just sex with them - I’m much more likely to choose the 50 year old, because he’s closer to my age, and instinctively I feel we’d have more in common and a better connection. At 58, with a face and figure to match, I can’t think of anything worse than being in bed with a young hunk with a perfect body!

I'm over 50 and I'm most attracted to men about 20 years younger than I am. I have dated some younger men and my preference is known to friends.

Now a man 20 years younger than me is in his 30s. He's a grown man, able to make his own decisions about who he dates. Not that I actually date men that young, because I have to be realistic, but I probably would if I could.

But I can imagine someone making that Jimmy Carr joke about me and the neighbours son. It's an exaggeration, but it's funny because of that. I don't really find teen boys attractive. But I would find the joke funny.

If I thought my DH was lusting after a 16 year old. I'd throw him out, I genuinely don't think he would. 21/25 possibly.
Tbf young men 21 to 25, look very different to 20 years ago, they're chiselled muscles and skincare routine. I have took a second glance on occasion, some are gorgeous.
I live beside a busy gym. 😬

I think most men find 16 year olds beautiful and in a way desirable . Of course they do , the girls are fizzing with oestrogen and this triggers the urge to mate. BUT many of them would not attempt even casual flirting because it would seem sleazy or disrespectful or pathetic, or perhaps because they have mature relationships with women closer to their own ages, or daughters around that age who they wouldn’t want to be hit on by other men. 16 is the age of consent in this country so we can’t call people perverts for finding that age group sexy.

Of course men will in general always be sexually attracted to younger woman - it’s basic human genetics. In order to maximise
chances of producing healthy babies to further the species men are engineered to be attracted to the healthiest and most likely potential mothers - which is women in their late teens and twenties.

Possibly, men age better, less stress, I think younger ladies enjoy flirting with a good looking Dad.
I remember one of out friends Dad, we thought was attractive, looking back he was a pervy flirty Dad, but the friends did coo over him.

That is because balding ages them beyond their years.

My wife is nearly 5 years older than me 😳
Maybe I was the “hot son next door” haha

All jokes aside, I don’t get it, I’m certainly not on the market, but for context I’m mid thirties, but wouldn’t entertain below 30.

To summarise, many older male friends have said to me over the years that, as they get older, men just tend to become more realistic with their expectations.

Women fall into two categories in their minds - those they want and those they can realistically get. Some will choose to focus on those they can realistically get and others will still pursue those they want.

I don't know if women feel the same way. I've always been attracted to men around my age (+5 years). Regardless of how old I have been and I'm 50 now. I can appreciate that men are attractive whatever their age but I wouldn’t be interested in them.

I think women can be quite naive about this really.

Most men who are looking for an equal relationship would choose someone a similar age to have that relationship with.

The sort of men who are interested in an actual partner; who expect and want to play an equal role in raising children and running a household; equality around chores etc.

They generally also want a woman who is their 'best friend'; with whom they have common interests (music, films, cultural and political etc).

They find those women generally attractive because of the way attraction works.

You can't easily have that sort of equality in a relationship with someone 25+ years younger than you because of a lack of shared experiences, cultural references, different life stages, etc.

But just sex? That's a totally different thing and any woman who thinks her husband/partner (or men in general) isn't sexually attracted to much younger women is naive.

With few exceptions, straight men will have sex with women who are willing to have sex with them in the main. If they think that that will 'only' be women of their own age, that's who they'll go for. If they think they've got a chance with someone younger, they'll go for them.

Many men realise they'll just come of as creepy and younger women won't be interested so they stick with what they've got/can get even with her perimenopausal body. Others don't. But they all look and they all react.

If you’ve ever sat in traffic while a load of high school girls walk past, and look at the men in their cars, it’s quite depressing.

I'm middle-aged but I'm still my Dad's child.

There no mention of age there. Obviously younger than him but not necessarily under 18. Obviously young men and women are going to be hotter.

governments across the world, including the western world, had to literally create laws to stop old men marrying underage girls. sadly that says it all

It’s biology. They are attracted to the most fertile. Theres no point, from a biological point of view, being attracted to someone who is less likely to become pregnant.
These inbuilt traits are thousands of years old.

Men are probably most attractive in their mid twenties. The losing hair thing is very tragic from an aesthetic perspective.

Women’s peak fertility age is late teens to late 20’s so that will be when they are most attractive to many men. Men peak in their early thirties. Obviously not everything is about fertility and plenty of people find different things attractive.

I don't think it's 'normal' but I do think the internet has helped these creeps find each other and convince themselves it is. That and the excess porn use demanding they watch more degenerate and taboo acts to get off their deadened worm.

When I see a grown man gawping at school girls it's an instant and visceral reaction of protective instincts and disgust. And I've seen the same reaction in men, even when the girls are not any relation to them. It triggers the same protective and violent reactions as pedophiles do.

Most men have wives and date around their own age range.

Humans are animals.

Which means they can be trained to a degree

Honestly I think people on this thread are tip-toeing around ageing here. It’s the elephant in the room.