A Man For Every Age: What Kind of Man Should You Be Dating?

Have you ever looked back on your dating history and shuddered, wondering what on earth caused you to be attracted to a few of the men in your past? You’re not alone and the good news is that this is perfectly normal.

According to some new research, our taste in men changes as we get older and, even more surprisingly, there is a ‘perfect man’ for every stage in a woman’s life.

Apparently our age dictates the different characteristics that we seek in a partner at any given time. The research, which was conducted by dating website Match.com, also disproves the idea that our standards in men drop as we get older. In fact, if anything we get even pickier (sorry menfolk!).

“It is natural that, as women mature, our tastes adjust to our developing expectations,” said Dr Cecilia D’Felice, a relationship expert at Match.com.

“When younger, looks predominate as we seek out someone with whom we want to share our genes, but these ‘surface attributes’ become less important as we look for depth and new experiences later in life,” she added.

So what type of men should we be looking for at any given age?

In your 20s? Look for a man who likes the same music as you...

Ages 18-24: When we’re in this age bracket, we tend to pay more attention to the opinions of others so we’re automatically drawn to men that we can show off to our friends. We’re also suckers for men with a six-pack. Shared tastes in music, films and books are the most important non-physical characteristics that we look for.

Ages 25-34: As we start making a mark in our careers and adjusting to adult life, we start to take a long-term view with regards to our relationships. However, physical attraction to our partners is more important than ever. We seek men that we have a strong sexual compatibility with and fellas who are ambitious and who want to be successful in their own careers.

Ages 35-44: As we become more concerned with settling down, we turn our backs on men our own age and are automatically drawn to older men. Usually we look for someone who is 2-5 years our senior. Good manners and kindness are also important to us in terms of characteristic traits.

Ages 45-54: At this age, we want a man with a high income who can make us feel secure. We’re much more likely to get involved with a younger man at this stage of our lives.

Ages 55+: In later life, intelligence, shared moral values and humour are more important than ambition. However, we don’t drop our standards as we get older. Most women aged 55 and over are pickier about who they date in comparison to women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. At this stage, we’re also looking for sexual compatibility.