Is The Cougar Phenomenon A Myth Or Media Hype?
Everybody is going nuts for cougars nowadays. Aside from celebrity cougars, there are also cougar conventions, cougar dating websites, cougar cruises and cougar parties out there. Michael Dunn, a psychology researcher, isn't convinced, though; and claims that the cougar movement is nothing but a myth, especially after studying the preferences of 22,400 singles ads on dating sites all over the world. Dunn says that no evidence exists to prove that there are many older women looking for younger men out there. As such, he claims cougar dating to be a mere craze that was influenced and triggered by Hollywood.
After releasing this statement, various self-proclaimed cougars instantly bit back. A journalist and author named Valerie Gibson, for example, states in her book 'Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men' that the interest in cougar dating nowadays isn't a fad or a phase, but a result of society becoming more accepting of the idea of older women dating younger men, in general.
After all, older women aren't just seen as grandmas in their late forties now. And, while more and more celebrity cougars are popping up, it doesn't change the fact that regular women look up to them for dating younger women and admit that they want to do the same. Cougars have been around for centuries now. The only difference is that society always frowned upon these relationships and saw them as shameful and wrong. Fortunately, things are different now.
A study was also conducted in 2003 regarding the dating preferences and habits of older women. It showed that 34% of these women were actually dating younger men, while 35% of them expressed a preference of dating older men. Studies like this are generally considered to be more valid because they are based on women's actual dating habits and lives instead of what they merely say on dating websites.
The amount of cougar websites has risen exponentially recently and events have popped up especially made for cougars, as well. This just goes to show that there definitely is a growing market for cougar dating. After all, organizers wouldn't waste so much of their money or time on a mere fad that will vanish the minute 'Cougar Town' stops showing on TV. Both society and the media now deem it alright for older women to date younger men. Even science has shown that woman aged 27 to 45 are more sexual, and this definitely won't be changing anytime soon.
Gibson also made a comment on how interesting it is that the women in Dunn's research aren't particularly keen to admit how interested they actually are in dating younger men on dating ads. Fortunately, cougar dating websites now exist to make their lives easier and to make this type of dating more popular. Seeing as a lot of cougars are now proud and honest when it comes to their preferences in dating, though, it is safe to assume that cougars will be staying for a long time to come, regardless of what Dunn thinks.