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Significant age disparity in sexual relationships has been and remains a feature of couples in many cultures and societies. Historically the most common pattern in heterosexual couples is an older man with a younger woman, however the converse (older woman/younger man) has increased significantly in many countries.^[1] Homosexual relationships of both sexes may also exhibit age disparity; when between an adult male and adolescent boy, the term "pederasty" is sometimes used, especially in European historical context. In extreme cases, age disparity may be seen as dysfunctional (a paraphilia) if such relationships are pursued to the exclusion of all others and to the detriment of the partners. Sexual relationships involving an adult and a prepubescent child are defined as child sexual abuse by all modern cultures.^[2][3]

Contents 1 Motives 1.1 Age disparity as an indicator of paraphilia 1.2 The "half-your-age-plus-seven" rule 2 Slang terms 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Motives

Factors leading into a search for a significantly younger or older individual with whom to share an intimate relationship can vary wildly. A common perception is that younger mates serve the purpose of a "trophy" or object of status, while older mates are perceived to have greater resources, wisdom, or sexual knowledge.

Many psychologists study the phenomenon of age disparity, and have observed certain extremes of this behavior.

• Chronophilia is a general term, applied to any age-related preference that is outside their own age group.
• Infantophilia is the attraction of older individuals to small children (ages ranging from 0 to 5).
• Pedophilia (or Paedophilia) is the attraction of older individuals to pre-adolescents.
• Ephebophilia is the attraction of older individuals to adolescents.
• Hebephilia is the attraction of older individuals to pubescent youths.
• Gerontophilia is the attraction of non-elderly individuals to the elderly.

[edit] Age disparity as an indicator of paraphilia

There is also the issue of whether age-disparate relationships are a significant indicator of paraphilia. Individuals who exclusively pursue age-disparate relationships may be classified by psychologists as parasexual, that is, their behavior is qualitatively different from the norm. Individuals who occasionally pursue age-disparate relationships are not included in this category, except in the popular press.

[edit] The "half-your-age-plus-seven" rule

The "never date anyone under half your age plus seven" rule is a rule of thumb used by some in Western cultures to judge whether the age difference in an intimate relationship is socially acceptable.^[4]

[edit] Slang terms

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A number of slang terms exist in English to describe pairings in which one individual is much older than the other:

• Chickenhawk—an older gay man who sexually pursues younger males, i.e. "twinks"/"chickens" or, more rarely, underage boys.

• Cougar—a woman over 40^[5] who sexually pursues younger men, typically more than eight years her junior.^[6] The origin of the word is debated; however, it is thought to have first appeared in print on the Canadian dating website Cougardate.com^[7] and has been used in TV series, advertising and film. The 2007 film Cougar Club was dedicated to the subject and in Spring 2009 TV Land aired a reality show called The Cougar. A new show called Cougar Town, explores the difficulty and stigma of many so-called "Cougars".

• Cradle robber or cradle snatcher^[8]—a person involved with a much younger individual.

• Cub—the younger male who is supposedly going out with an older woman, often used with the term Cougar.^[9] The term is also often used in the gay community along with the term "bear". While normally used to refer to a partner under 30, this is not a prerequisite.^[10]

• Gold digger—someone (typically a female) who develops a relationship with a much older partner for primarily financial reasons, especially to inherit the partner's wealth upon death (which is expected to come soon).

• Jailbait—a sexually attractive female who is below the legal age of consent. This designation connotes enticement to endanger oneself of being prosecuted for statutory rape. In California, the term "San Quentin Quail," a reference to the state prison at San Quentin, is used. Perhaps due to the influence of Hollywood on American slang, the expression is used in other states as well.

• Lolita—a sexually precocious girl who is the object of desire of a significantly older man. As used in the English language, the term refers to the title character of Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita, who is referred to by the book's narrator, Humbert Humbert, as a nymphet. While "nymphet" is still used to refer to younger children,^{[citation needed]} "Lolita" has come to be applied to older adolescents and young women in the context of pornography.

• May-December romance—a relationship in which the age differential between the two adults is wide enough to risk social disapproval. The issue was explored in depth in a very successful BBC comedy series, May to December.

• Manther—the male version of a cougar. From the portmanteau of man and panther.^{[citation needed]}

• MILF (an acronym of "Mother [or 'Mom'] I'd Like to Fuck")—a sexually desirable older woman, though not necessarily one who has children. The term is used frequently as a descriptor of pornography featuring older women. It was popularized by the 1999 film American Pie, is also the name given to the pot sold by Nancy Botwin on the Showtime series "Weeds", by 2008, the term was familiar enough to be used on television series such as 30 Rock (episode "MILF Island"), Scrubs (episode "My Jerks") and Pushing Daisies (episode "The Norwegians") without necessitating its definition (which would have violated Federal Communications Commission rules). The 'M' is replaced by 'G' (for 'Grandmother') in the case of women who are in their mid-50s or older, and/or are actual grandmothers; thus, GILF (or G-MILF). The male counterpart terms are DILF (an acronym of "Dad I'd Like to Fuck")^[11]–for Dad–within the gay community and FILF^[12]–for Father–in the straight community. Other variations have also been used - 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin was described as a VPILF or GILF (Governor I'd Like to Fuck), although technically she was also a mother and a grandmother.^[13][14]

• Puma—a woman in her thirties who dates a younger man (i.e., 20-somethings), often considered to be "cougars-in-training". It also means Cougars whose age disparity is less than 8 years.^[5][15]

• Rock spider—a paedophile. (Commonly used in correctional facilities.)^{[citation needed]}

• Silver fox—an attractive older male.^{[citation needed]}

• Sugar baby—the person provided for by a sugar daddy/mommy.^{[citation needed]}

• Sugar daddy/mama/mommy—a rich, usually older person who offers money or gifts to a less rich, usually younger person in return for companionship or sexual favors. This differs from prostitution in that the older person is usually the sole financial provider to the younger person. In Japan, there is a loosely similar practice known as enjo kōsai.

• Toy boy/Boy toy^{[citation needed][16]}—a much younger boyfriend or husband of an older woman. In male-male relationships, a toy boy (sometimes toy boi) characterizes the one who is (and usually enjoys being) used for sexual gratification.

• Troll—an older gay/bi man, often a less-attractive one, who cruises younger men for sex.^[17]

[edit] See also

Ageplay Child sexuality Generation gap Enjo kōsai Historical pederastic relationships

List of films featuring May-December romances Marriageable age MILF Pederasty Trophy wife

[edit] References