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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'A woman's prime is between 18-26'

222 replies

lough · 16/04/2023 19:45

AIBU to be annoyed at DP saying this? He's arguing it not from an opinion, but from a 'biological' viewpoint and when a woman is most appealing to men from a biological standpoint.

I am in this age range but bordering on the end of it and having such a crisis about aging anyway (which I HATE because I can't understand why women have this pressure that MEN do not and believe that it is predominantly a societal thing). He disagrees and says it's not a societal influence at all and solely biological and that 'most men' would agree that this is the age a female is 'in her prime'.

(To add, I'd like to think I'm not in my prime now before 25 as I'd be sorely disappointed 🤣).
Surely his black/white perspective of this is wrong? It just annoys me but possibly because I'm so into feminism.

OP posts:
LexMitior · 16/04/2023 19:46

He's playing an old game with you and your feminism.

It's called "there's competition and you will get old".

leepingup · 16/04/2023 19:47

I agree with him

Calvinlookingforhobbes · 16/04/2023 19:47

Your DP sounds awful.

Awintersnight · 16/04/2023 19:48

He’s not wrong but also a complete weirdo for saying that out loud. There’s just no need

Fuerza · 16/04/2023 19:48

Eugh.

I'd be so turned off hearing that.

OhmygodDont · 16/04/2023 19:48

It was something in our health class as college. A woken peaks and then slowly declines health wise etc from 25 onwards.

I actually think my prime was maybe 16 😂

Notimeforaname · 16/04/2023 19:49

I agree with him.

Albiboba · 16/04/2023 19:49

Yeah I wouldn’t be with someone who is so clearly red pill.
I’m sure this isn’t the only misogynistic comment you’re brushing off either.

OhmygodDont · 16/04/2023 19:49

Women not woken 😬

Sarah2891 · 16/04/2023 19:49

Well biologically speaking it probably is true. What made him mention this to you anyway?

CruCru · 16/04/2023 19:50

It’s probably when a woman is most fertile … but it’s a strange thing to say to his partner.

AllOfThemWitches · 16/04/2023 19:50

In what way, exactly?

Deadringer · 16/04/2023 19:50

Aren't they the peak child bearing years? But yes I think he is being a dick. I suppose he believes that men improve with age too. Just tell him that men are at their peak at whatever age he was two years ago.

Bingbangbongbash · 16/04/2023 19:50

If he’s so into biology, maybe he should be educated on monogamy. The best strategy for mating from a biological standpoint is to copulate with a strong, virile alpha male and use a steadfast, reliable beta male to bring them up. Biological cuckolding. Bet he’s less keen on that aspect of biology.

museumum · 16/04/2023 19:50

A woman’s “prime” is NOT when she’s most attractive to men! It’s when she doesn’t give a fuck what men think and has the wisdom, skill and confidence to excel in her own right, with or without a male life partner.

AllOfThemWitches · 16/04/2023 19:50

Biologically (if we're talking fertility) it was as easy for me to get pregnant at 34 than it was at 16.

Clymene · 16/04/2023 19:51

God how depressing.

greenspaces4peace · 16/04/2023 19:51

biologically/fertility sounds right. the age for men probably isn't much different.

thatsn0tmyname · 16/04/2023 19:52

A woman's prime between 18 and 26 is 19 or 23.

reddwarfgeek · 16/04/2023 19:52

I think that's bollocks in all honesty. Did he say it with a straight face?

OhmygodDont · 16/04/2023 19:52

It’s what’s taught it health classes though. It’s not like his just randomly picked it out his arse. 2010 health class I was taught that in college by a women in fact we had zero males teachers for this course.

ArcticSkewer · 16/04/2023 19:52

Bingbangbongbash · 16/04/2023 19:50

If he’s so into biology, maybe he should be educated on monogamy. The best strategy for mating from a biological standpoint is to copulate with a strong, virile alpha male and use a steadfast, reliable beta male to bring them up. Biological cuckolding. Bet he’s less keen on that aspect of biology.

Most excellent!

pointythings · 16/04/2023 19:52

From a purely childbearing pov he's right, but in terms of appeal - hell no. I look at pictures of me at 35 and those were absolutely my phwoarr years - I was physically fit, a size 14 at 5'11'', confident as fuck and completely comfortable in my skin. I was happily married and those were the best shagging years too.

BCBird · 16/04/2023 19:52

Oh dear. I'm.53. Between 16 and 26 I was not at my prime emotionally. Think I was at my best bwn 45 and 52- small window🙄🤣

Original poster
lough · 16/04/2023 19:52

@Sarah2891 it was me bringing up the conversation of how I find it awful that there is so much pressure and scrutiny regarding women's aging to the point that they have stress/insecurities over it whereas men don't ever seem to have this (or at least on the same level) and I expressed how I believe it was societal. His counter-argument was this (he's very scientific and supports biological evidence in most debates similar so he genuinely believes this too).

(In his defence though, this came as a counter-argument to my side of the debate, he isn't just throwing it out as a generic opinion) Grin but it didn't change my mind at all, just irritated me

OP posts: