Female Supremacy Articles - Page 18

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But if it is purely sexual, it's not necessarily a good thing. For a start, while the spark of attraction may exist between a twentysomething man and thirtysomething woman, move that forward ten or 20 years and you will almost certainly find a different sexual balance. There's no denying that women of 55 look different from the way they did when they were in their thirties, and not everyone has $250,000 to "invest" in their bodies the way Demi Moore has in order to defy time and nature. And good relationships require more than just good sex.

"No, it can't be as simple as the sexual match," Hodson continues. "Women now have significant economic power, so they don't have to rely on a man providing for them.

"If a woman has been married already, she may feel relieved of the need to find a protector, and free to enjoy a relationship in which she can have more dominance. And, on top of that, women do live an average of five years longer than men, so it makes biological sense if you don't want to be left old and alone."

This is not to say it will all be plain-sailing. Many are sceptical of age gaps for good reason, not least of which is the fact that a difference of ten years can signify a disparity in life stages.

Christine Northam is a counsellor with Relate and says that, while there are reasons for women to enjoy their equal partnerships with younger men, there can be great challenges, too.