Suzette Annan
News of r&b diva Mariah Carey getting hitched to actor and presenter Nick Cannon (both pictured, left), shocked the entertainment world this week for two reasons.The first was, when the hell did they start dating? - it's an unlikely match to say the least - and the second being the fact that she is 11 years his senior.
Carey is not the first celeb to fall for the charms of a younger guy. We all know about Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, the list goes on. So is the whole toy boy thing still a subject that causes many to blush? Or have our dating standards changed?
There is an unwritten rule in relationships that the guy should be older than the girl, if not the same age. The 'rule' comes as the result of the idea that women are looking for the qualities of their father in their chosen mate. They want him to be taller, older, stronger and ultimately to be able to protect them and any brood they may produce down the line. It's all to do with biology. If women are supposed to be attracted to the ideal father figures, why are so many considering younger men?
Many reasons. One: younger guys are hotter and are likely to have more energy for you know what. Two: younger men fantasise about older women. It is a common male fantasy to pursue an older attractive woman. If this fantasy is achieved men feel lucky and thus treat that woman like a goddess. Three: younger guys are so cute. You know how women coo over cute babies, it's the same sort of idea. The 'cute' dumbness or ignorance (whatever you want to call it ) that younger guys can possess can be incredibly appealing to older women. Perhaps women have stopped looking for their fathers and started searching for their sons instead? (That is not supposed to sound sick and incestuous.)
It seems the toy boy has shaken off its taboo status and has traded it in for a trendy one. So ladies you can stop feeling guilty about the crush you have on that nineteen-year-old (hang on, if you're 58 you should feel guilty, I'm 20 so it's alright.) Go on girls, go get yourself on the arm of a toy boy. He'll go nicely with your new heels.
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