The Age Difference Men Prefer When Dating An Older Vs. Younger Woman, By His Zodiac Sign
For some men age really does matter when it comes to dating a woman.
Unsplash Just like men all have preferences when they date – she must be hilarious enough to make me spit wine everywhere or she should definitely come from a big, close-knit family – they also have preferences for age.
You might not have an exact age you absolutely have to date (that would be kind of weird, right?), but you probably have an age range that you’re most comfortable with.
Maybe that’s around your own age, a little younger than you, or maybe even a LOT older than you, this is the age range that you find you connect with women the best. Maybe you don’t have a preference at all!
However you feel about age when dating, your real preference is all in the stars. Men date in different age groups for a lot of different reasons. Younger women are seen as the most playful, youthful (duh), and spontaneous.
Older women are seen as more experienced, wise, and calm. And, of course, women your own age can vary greatly, but you have the best chance at connecting with them than any other age range.
This isn’t to say that a younger woman could be very wise and an older woman could be very playful, but when men look for the perfect partner, they often look within themselves to choose someone they relate to the most.
Say, for example, that you are the kind of guy who just wants to have fun and not care about the consequences.
You’re probably more attracted to younger women, then, because they are at that age where they don’t care as much about the day after a huge, crazy party.
Or maybe you’re the kind of man who just wants to settle down with someone long-term. You’ve done your partying, and now you just want someone you can come home to after a stressful day at work.
An older woman might be more your preference because she’s probably already been through her party phase, too, and is more likely to be chill and calm. And what if you don’t have a preference?
Well, then, that just means you love all kind of women, no matter what age you are. But each zodiac sign usually tends to lean towards one age group over the other.
Some absolutely love cougars (women significantly older than them), while others are still trying to hold onto their youth, so they’ll date a woman five or even ten years younger than them. It all has to do with what the zodiac sign is like inside that makes the difference.
So, which one are you? Keep reading for the horoscope of men who prefer dating older women vs. the ones who like them younger, according to astrology.
1. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
Aquarius is all about dating someone with experience. He wants to be with someone who knows what they're doing and will teach him a few things in the process. Aquarius is one of the wiser zodiac signs, which means he has a more mature outlook in love than other zodiac signs.
Combined with his fondness for new experiences, dating an older woman would mean that Aquarius gets to be with someone who will encourage him to try new things. Plus, dating someone different from him – in looks, mindset, and experience level – is a huge turn-on for him.
2. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorn needs to know that whoever he is dating is in it for the long haul. He is the kind of zodiac sign who looks for women who are ready to settle down – and know what they want in a relationship, rather than someone who is still trying to find herself.
Capricorn is also incredibly attracted to success. When a woman has achieved a lot in her life, and is familiar with the hard work that comes with success, Capricorn is more willing to date her. He needs someone who will inspire him and show him that there is proof that his future can be bright.
3. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius is the kind of zodiac sign who will try everything at least once. It might be his first (and only) time dating an older woman, but he wants to at least see what all the fuss is about. Once he gets a taste for dating someone older than him, it'll be something he wants to go back to, again and again.
Sagittarius mainly prefers dating older women because of their confidence. He is very attracted to a woman who can hold her head up high and not care what anyone else thinks. And with all of that confidence comes experience – something Sagittarius looks for in all the new things he tries.
4. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
When Virgo dates someone new, he looks for a woman with a very calming presence. Relationships to him are about finding someone you can settle down with – and younger women are all about high energy and constant curiosity (something he isn't looking for).
Older women have that placid control that Virgo is looking for. He tends to look beyond a physical connection when it comes to dating, and when it comes to older women, he really feels like he can find an emotional and mental connection that goes beyond animalistic pleasure. He needs someone who will bring peace to his life, not chaos.
5. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces is another one of those wise zodiac signs that looks for a calmer, more peaceful relationship without a lot of chaos. When he starts a new relationship, he looks for a partner he can come home to after a long day at work and snuggle with in bed. He much prefers someone who has already gotten their wild years out of the way, rather than someone who rushes through life.
Pisces is most likely to date older women over younger women for that reason. He wants to know that she can take care of him and bring a calming presence to his life. When he's with an older woman, he feels like he's found his soulmate.
6. ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries can be very impulsive and child-like, but he also likes the thought of dating an older woman to bring a little more control and tranquility to his life. What he looks for most often in a relationship is someone who is just as confident and experienced as he is – two child-like souls in a relationship won't make him happy.
Older women who can still appreciate his young-at-heart attitude are perfect matches for him. Someone who can keep him on his toes but still teach him how to take life in stride will make him a better, stronger person and partner.
7. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Gemini's curiosity is what will drive him to date older women the most. The older woman is not always his preferred demographic, but he is always up for trying new things in the bedroom. Getting it on with a cougar? Definitely on his bucket list.
Gemini sees older women as more willing to think outside of the box when it comes to intimacy and love. She will certainly keep him on his toes, but only for a while. Once Gemini gets his fill, he's off to the next lover who will open him up to someone totally new and different. His attention span isn't very long, so a partnership with an older woman will be short and sweet.
8. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Libra loves the thought of dating an older woman because he knows that she will be much more likely to want to settle down into the relationship instead of keeping things casual. Libra looks for long-lasting love when he's dating someone, and an older woman will understand that fully.
That said, Libra is also a very passionate lover. He wants his partner to be as willing to jump into the relationship with both feet as he is. Dating someone younger than him might be the better option because he's more likely to find someone uninhibited and spontaneous.
9. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus is more likely to date someone younger than him (or someone his own age) than an older woman. Taurus believes in wooing his partner with romance, which sometimes comes easier when he's with someone a little inexperienced.
Taurus also likes the thought of being the one to teach his partner new things and open her up to new experiences. Because an older woman would be more practiced than him, he can't really do this. He likes dating younger women so that he can be someone he can take care of and who will look up to him; someone who understands the value of innocence in a relationship.
10. LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leo doesn't really care how old the woman he's dating is, as long as she brings a lot of love and affection to his life. He likes being in relationships with women who know how to have fun and are excited to just spend time with him.
Leo doesn't really need a partner who will take care of him (and he doesn't expect to take care of his partner), so any woman he dates should be willing to be in an equal partnership with him, regardless of her age. As long as he dates someone who can be his partner in crime in life, he doesn't really care how old she is.
11. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cancer has a very nurturing personality about him. When he dates a woman, he wants to know that he can always take care of her. In fact, he likes the thought of dating someone who is a little bit needy and clingy, just so he knows he matters to her.
Cancer is more likely to date someone younger than himself because he knows that this is the best way for him to be that nurturing person to her. Knowing that he can be the one to teach her new things, protect her, and be someone she can look up to is exactly what he's looking for in a relationship.
12. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpio has absolutely no preference when it comes to older women versus younger women. He is a very carnal man, so when he's attracted to you, that's all that matters to him. If you even get farther than the first date with him, then he'll try to get to know you better (including figuring out how old you are). Otherwise, he likes to keep things casual.
Scorpio is very driven by his animalistic desires. Age has no bearing on whether or not the relationship will last because older women can be just as spontaneous as younger women, and younger women can be just as wise as older women. He's just interested in a gooooood time with you.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.