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

Yes I understand that women can also look older and sun damaged. My point was that you describe that as a positive in a man while likening a woman to 'an old leather handbag', when in reality they're both signs that the person isn't at their biological prime, so if these theories hold true, should be overlooked as a mate.
Yet your imagination, fueled by the propaganda of older men, reinvents middle aged Colin, who has spent too much time round the pool in Benidorm, as a manly man who looks that way because he's spent a life hunting and protecting.
Women may report becoming more attracted to bald men as they (the women) age because they are likely to be partnered with one and are biased/kind or else realistic about how hirsute their dating pool has become. If it was really a plus and percieved as 'wisdom' then young women would be attracted to them too.

This is true. Men tend to let themselves go, and it’s a shame and we should actually shame them for gaining weight (particularly in the unhealthy pattern that they do), dressing sloppily, doing nothing about balding (lots can be done nowadays) and going around with Jack o’Lantern teeth.

The problem is not high standards for women. The problem is that the standards for men are so fucking low.

Agree with @JohnTheRevelator. I think most men are attracted to younger women, however I’m in my 50s and have noticed men paying me much more attention in the last few years. My DH also mentions when he sees men ‘checking me out’ (his words). These men range in ages from mid twenties to (I think) seventies. Maybe it’s women’s midlife confidence which is attractive to them? Whatever the reason, it does give me a boost.

I like Iron Man’s bum.

You're describing a particular type of look there, associated with out doorsy, physical, traditionally masculine men, which some women are attracted to.

Yes, the 'rugged' look. 🤣

There is no female equivalent not because older men look more attractive this way, but because men devalue older women and over value their aging selves. And some women are conditioned to agree.

Not sure I wholly agree. Some women also end up with skin like a leather handbag after too much time spent in the sun. But women in general value assertiveness and status more. Age can bring the perception of wisdom and authority. Studies show that women become more attracted to bald men as they age (not 'balding' btw, bald as in a completely bald head). Again, men with a bald head are often perceived as more authoritative.

This isn't inherently discriminatory because nobody fancies a man with a nice curvy booty either.

I think a lot of men ARE attracted to much younger women,but equally I think that a lot of younger men are attracted to older women. I'm now 62,and when I was aged between 54 and 59,I had several men aged between 26(!) and 45 ask me out. I've not had any approaches for a couple of years now,either I'm looking old and haggard or since deciding I'm done with men (long story!) I'm giving out negative 'leave me alone' vibes.

The peds and rapists are, but no not most men.

Exactly right 👏👏

I definitely prefer ‘rugged’ so. It’s deep 😁

Men are biologically wired to look for physical characteristics, youth and attractiveness, and women are more biologically wired to look for safety and security. So maybe if women are more attracted to "rugged" men or older men, regardless of their conventional physical attractiveness, it's because these men seem more able to provide protection and security.

The men are unconsciously looking for the most fertile women and the women are unconsciouslylooking for the men who are most able to provide security.

You're describing a particular type of look there, associated with out doorsy, physical, traditionally masculine men, which some women are attracted to. However, this thread is about age and how it effects attractiveness.
Not all women are attracted to 'rugged' as you describe it, and for certain the average, out of shape, office working indoor man isn't going to be 'rugged' however old he is.
The term is usually used to make a virtue out of the craggy, thickened and uneven skin, sun damage and general well worn features of an aging man.
There is no female equivalent not because older men look more attractive this way, but because men devalue older women and over value their aging selves. And some women are conditioned to agree.

Why is it depressing?

Depressing that most men find young women, who have adult secondary sexual characteristics, attractive?

My eldest daughter, by the time she was 15, had the body of a grown woman, with all the same physical markers of attractiveness as a 25 year old woman. The brain isn't going to notice one and not the other.

I'm not sure if it's just that some women really can't understand the differernce between finding someone just physically attractive and finding them attractive in a deeper more holistic way. It does seem the two are more joined up for women than men overall, but often I think also more for younger women than older ones.

Is the expectation that somehow men (and I guess women too) not notice that people who are far from them in age are sexually attractive, even very beautiful?

I don't think it follows that women would act the same if it was a biological urge. Men and women are very different.

And there do seem to be biological urges in this area. For example, studies have shown that women are more attracted to 'masculine' men when they're ovulating.

Rugged doesn't mean past their peak. A young man can be rugged, although usually it's used for men in at least their 30s. I'd say Gérard Butler or Sean Bean could be called rugged. A young Leonardo Dicaprio, Benedict Cumberbatch, or Jarvis Cocker less so. The difference between a lumberjack/mechanic stereotype and an office worker with soft hands.

@5128gapThis is what i was saying earlier about having a brain and choices and not be only driven by pure biology. There is a lot of 'poor men, can't help it' without a thought to how misogyny is a bigger driving force than anything else.

We are a civilised and evolved species with many different factors influencing our choice of partner outside of the basic desire to reproduce. Yet invariably on these threads, 'biology' gets trotted out by creepy men and insecure/enabling women to explain why old men chase women their daughters' age.
I'm pointing out that if this biological urge was so strong it outweighed our sophistication then women would not be immune. Because there is no biological driver for women to want 'rugged' (a flattering term for getting on a bit and past their biological peak) men, or to see men in their 20s as 'boys' when they are at the ideal age to create healthy pregnancies.

Yes, a lot of men prioritise looks, youthfulness, femininity & amiable/easy-going personality. Obviously men vary, but these are pretty common.

Ha, I thank God that I'm attracted to women as well (I mostly don't date men).

I think being out of that side of things means I can see thinks a bit more neutrally.

I think most women deny a lot of things about male sexuality.

In the past this was easier : men & women were more segregated & women generally weren't exposed to the more unregulated aspects of male sexuality.

Now porn, the internet, OLD, less sexual taboos means that it's harder for women to ignore things they'd probably rather not know (This thread's topic, for one)

I don't think the sexual revolution was bad as a whole, I'm not Mary Harrington or Louise Perry though I do agree with some of what they say.

I do think it means that women have to differentiate between unlucky but not bad things like being attracted to older teens (as long as the men don't do anything IRL), or having an mildly obsessive sex drive (I was shouted down on another thread for saying that women want casual sex less than men do. I think some of that is societal pressure, but some IS also biology), and things that are actually harmful like watching violent/abusive porn (which is most) or horrible 'kinks' like choking.

Also the way that most men would probably sleep with their female friends if the friends were interested. This is very common & it doesn't necessarily mean they're only or mainly friends with the woman in the hopes of sleeping with her. But often it does, sadly..

I know because I know him and he'd never be with a young woman. I dont think he'd go with anyone younger than 30. He's said himself that he finds men going with young women odd. It's not just about the looks, but the lack of common ground. I get it too. I could never date a man younger than me.

I think lots of us want 'a man' not a boy. But I don't see this with men. They don't want ruggedness like many of us do. And men care less about the status/earnings of their partner.

Oh lawdy, you've shown the bull the red flag with this one! 🤣

People are quite touchy on here about this. I've seen a lot of people claiming it's down to societal expectations but scientists say it's because we have thinner skin and lower collagen density than men. And the menopause massively accelerates things.

It's odd actually. I remember seeing a regular poster getting quite angry about how 'misogynistic' it was to discuss this. But then I went onto another thread and the very same poster was saying "Transphobia? We're just stating scientific facts here". I did wonder if there was any cognitive dissonance going on but it didn't appear so. I mean, surely it's only an issue if we judge a women's value by her looks?

But tbh I think most of us do care about our appearance if we're being completely honest. Usually more than men do. If they've got enough money to drive flash cars and get hot women then many don't seem to really care about the beer gut.

I'm not quite 30 but I already feel I've lost a bit of my youthful radiance. I sometimes worry about the effects of working outside for hours a day. The UV rays etc. But I still get chased a lot by men so I guess I must still pass the test lol.

It's just so depressing

What's the point in trying to have a relationship with one of these morons

It makes sense evolutionarily for women capable of pregnancy to choose the youngest strongest most virile man she can find.
Yet bizarrely most of us overcome the urge to cheat with 23 year old 6' 2" gym bunny Jake on a monthly basis, and stay faithful to the average in every way, getting on a bit man we married.

Many straight men are attracted to younger women, but it depends on the person not everyone is the same.

My friend often complains to me about her 80 year old dad who is on dating sites and states that he doesn’t want to talk to women who’ve gone through the menopause because they all look old(!)

She asked him if he’s looked in the mirror, lately. She says that he still thinks he’s the good looking guy he was in his youth. A lot of men have this sort of delusion. It’s weird.

Ditto, overweight men commenting on women who are overweight.