Do women really age worse than men?

[CoalTit]

I just read a novel where the protagonist thinks at one point how women age worse than men, and it took me back to a couple of boyfriends in the nineties saying that as if it were just something that everyone knows. I was really surprised that anyone would think the sex that goes bald ages better. Do any women think men age better than women?
YABU: yes, women age (physically) worse than men do.
YANBU: no, men as a class age just as badly as women.

Haha I remember saying the opposite on the 90s.

I think men's skin tends to age better. But hairloss and beer bellies (in some men) mean they age just as much.

Beautiful men age better than beautiful women.

The rest of us (vast majority) age the same.

I’m with you. Stomach smiles back at me since c-section

Well I've aged far better than my OH if that helps!

This is sexist. Many womem keep a toned figure as they age through exercise. I see soooo many very slim older women when I'm out and about. Sadly I'm not one of them but that's a different story.

Oh, it was a totally extreme example for sure. I don't think any men will be objectively attractive in their 70s, but it's possible for an old man to have a body that many men in their 30s-40s strive for.

The same would be true for women if our cultural aesthetic desired muscular females but it doesn't. Obv plenty of women don't like big guys but many do if you think how many women like rugby players and guys like Jason Momoa, Vin Diesel, etc.

It's just reality. As another poster said, female beauty is often defined by fat deposits/curves and these slowly go south in our 30s-40s and especially after kids. Men, on the other hand, can be rock solid and don't suffer the same gravity effect.

No, you said no one outside of their 20s has a youthful body shape. I said that was nonsense as there would be little if any difference between a 20s and 30s women's body shape all other things being equal.
Theres no point in arguing with you. If you've never been to a gym and seen some of the bodies older women have from training, never seen a woman who looks 20 years younger from the back, and have your own reasons for believing they don't exist, I won't convince you otherwise.

I'm a qualified personal trainer and I can honestly say that I've never seen anyone who looks twenty years younger from any angle.

Strangely, I've had far more male attention/been chatted up more in my 40's than I was in my 20's. My body definitely isn't as good as it was back then, but something must be more appealing.

Perhaps I just look like an easy catch or desperate, despite the wedding ring. 😂😂

In my dads case I think so!

He's in his 70's and a friend saw a picture of him and asked who it was.

"My dad"

"He's so young. But he can't be in his 50's" (I'm in my 40's.

"He's 72"

I hope that even as a woman I've developed his genes for looking youthful

Totally agree. Most of the married men I know are punching. Or should I say paunching.

My job means I spend a lot of time with an older demographic, and I see every variation of adult human beings A couple of things I have noticed;

Wealth is a huge factor.

Genes.

Lifestyle.

Some people spend more time and effort on their looks than other people.

@CoalTit Do men age better than women ? Do you actually mean are older men generally seen as more attractive than older women by society ?

Do men age better than women ? Do you actually mean are older men generally seen as more attractive than older women by society ?

Yes, @BirmaBrite, that's a very different question to whether older men are actually more aesthetically pleasing than older women!

It's not true to make blanket statements either way, but men can just cover their face with a beard as PP said, which covers signs of ageing and is usually flattering imo. I briefly considered one myself

Exactly. It’s society. Sexist. Stereotypes etc.

Us women do have a tendency to knock each and ourselves down. Do you think men would be having this conversation?

From the young women I know they don’t want curves. They prefer a more androgynous body given the choice, I know I would. There has been lots of research done on this and it’s been conclusive that women do prefer men with slimmer, more feminine features. The only time this changes is for the few days they are ovulating.
I believe this is why stars such as David Bowie, Marc Bolan, David Sylvian, Harry Styles are so successful. I think it’s generally men and the male dominated media who push the ‘Women like big, muscly men’ theory.

You surprise me. Not facially obviously, but bodies, surely? Someone posted a picture of a woman on this thread that looks decades younger. Perhaps your job makes you more likely to see the tell tale signs that im missing.

@TokidokiBarbie Lots of men do look better at 40 as they seem much more manly.

Can you define what you mean by 'manly' ? Do you mean they have more body hair ? Are taller than most women ? Deeper voice ? Because that is what most of them achieve by the time they are 20, if they are ever going to.

You surprise me. Not facially obviously, but bodies, surely? Someone posted a picture of a woman on this thread that looks decades younger. Perhaps your job makes you more likely to see the tell tale signs that im missing.

It's movement - the mechanics of our bodies seem to change with age, regardless of the type and amount of exercise we do. I agree that in photos or at first glance people may appear younger but there are always signs. Sadly, I can see these all too well in my own body although I would love to believe I still have the body I did in my twenties!

Thats interesting. A little depressing too to think our bodies stop moving at their optimum level when we're only just over a quarter through our lives.

I must be abit weird as I've always preferred broad-shouldered, heavier-set men. Definitely need some chest hair too. I can't bear slimmer, more feminine features in a partner, never could!

I think you're a bit behind the curve (pun intended). Big bums are back in fashion in a big way.

Oh, I thought you meant women wanted to be more androgynous. You meant they prefer androgynous men.

I'm not so sure. This is a very middle class website. I'd say women that fancy a bit of a geezer probs don't want a David Bowie.

@PolarPolly27 It's movement - the mechanics of our bodies seem to change with age, regardless of the type and amount of exercise we do.

But that is true of both sexes as we age ? There are certainly things we can do to reduce the impact of ageing on those movements, so as you age you need to focus more on flexibility and strength, because these are the things that impact our ability to do everyday tasks. Can you pick that sock up off the floor without headbutting the chest of drawers ?
There is also that much forgotten 'mechanics of our bodies' situation, the 'because you have no choice', I see this a lot in spousal carers

@BirmaBrite Absolutely - I was in no way implying this is only true of women. I'm often surprised at how much strength and flexibility can be lost at a relatively young age in people who are largely sedentary. It's so important to just move!