Although the decision to marry is a matter of consent of the parties to the engagement alone;

However, traditions have an essential role that controls many marriages, especially when it comes to the age difference between spouses.

Some give themselves the right to interfere in the affairs of the spouses, and intrude on each party to find out the age difference between the spouses, with advice that the difference should be a few years in favor of the man so that society accepts this relationship.

Some set firm rules for the age limits between spouses, as many believe that the ideal difference ranges between 7 and 10 years in favor of the man, while others tend to reduce the difference to 3 years, but if the wife is older, the marriage is unacceptable, so that some people hide His real age to avoid embarrassment sometimes.

But recently, some societies have begun to accept the idea within the limits that the difference is 5 years at most in favor of women, and this is for a fundamental reason many believe, which is that the symptoms of aging affect women before men, and it is a theory that has not been proven correct.

Some studies addressed this issue, in 2018, when researchers at the University of Auckland found that people automatically perceive with some suspicion for relationships in which one side is greater than the other, especially if that party is the man, and it is interesting in the results of that study, that people Older people were more comfortable with having age differences than younger husbands.

Relationships expert Tiffany Wright says that most of these relationships involve some form of bartering, and they also grab people's attention, and Tiffany adds that it is important in this type of marriage that both parties have the same view about the future, as one party may want children While the other does not want.

Many believe that the ideal age difference between spouses should not exceed (3-7) years in favor of the man (Pixabay)

Societal discrimination

Societal discrimination of relationships with age differences was the focus of the study published by psychologist Brian Colcion, researcher at Azusa Pacific University, in which he refutes the reasons behind the social bias of the age gap between couples.

The research began with the assumption that the older party in the marriage is the greatest beneficiary of it, according to societal expectations prevailing in most societies.

According to this hypothesis, the majority believes that the older partner offers more than love to ensure the success and continuation of the marriage.

In order to attract the smaller party, such as money or power and influence.

Through 16 analyzes of the relationship between men and women, psychologist Colision developed a social questionnaire, which was developed through a website specialized in questionnaires dedicated to social studies. 4 main scenarios were included in the questionnaire:

  • Old and young woman

  • A young man and an older woman

  • Young man and woman

  • An old man and an old woman

The results provided partial support for the researchers' hypothesis, as the study participants evaluated the relationship of the young man, the young woman, the old man, and the elderly in a positive way, while they looked down upon the two relationships that included a significant age difference, whether in favor of the man or the woman.

The rejection of the two forms of the relationship was equal, and of course the discovery was not surprising.

But he proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the Colision's hypothesis.

It is worth noting that the questionnaire included a group of other problems in relationships related to height, weight and color, and all of them received positive evaluations compared to age, as age difference marriages are still stigmatized, compared to other marriages.

Among the results of the study, the evaluation of the relationship of the older man and a younger girl was more negative than the evaluation of the relationship of an older woman than the husband, which is what Colision thought stems from the charitable aspect, which is based on protecting women under a strong man, while the older man In any case, he is a exploiter of the little girl, and he uses his powers and money to control her, according to the study.