"Why Single Women Hesitate to Date 'Young Forty' Men"

57% of Unmarried Women Hesitate to Date 'Young Forty' Men
Generational Gap and Authoritative Image Cited as Main Reasons
Older Women More Likely to View Marriage with Young Forty Men Positively

According to a survey by the matchmaking company Duo, the majority of women in their 40s tend to avoid dating men in their early 40s with relatively youthful sensibilities, known as 'Young Forty.'

According to a survey by the matchmaking company Duo, the majority of women in their 40s tend to avoid dating men in their early 40s with relatively youthful sensibilities, known as 'Young Forty.' Pixabay

In a survey conducted by Duo from November 14 to 19, targeting 1,000 unmarried women aged 25 to 34, 57% of respondents said they were hesitant to date Young Forty men. The most common reason for their hesitation, cited by 33%, was the perception that these men might pretend to be younger or deny their age. This was followed by concerns about difficulties in communication or empathy due to generational differences (30%), and worries about an authoritative attitude (25%). Experts analyzed that it is more the image and social prejudice, rather than actual behavior, that influence dating decisions.

When asked about the overall image of Young Forty men, negative evaluations stood out. Among respondents, 44% felt they were authoritative, 40% sensed a significant generational gap, and 35% said they appeared old-fashioned and less attractive.

On the other hand, women who gave positive evaluations cited economic and social stability (39%), appearance and self-management (31%), and responsibility and seriousness (14%) as strengths. In particular, stability and consistent self-management were found to be important factors in forming attraction, with these traits having a greater impact on dating appeal than age alone.

Differences by age group were also observed. The proportion of positive responses among women aged 30 to 34 was 17%, higher than the 11% among those aged 25 to 29. Similarly, 11% of women aged 25 to 29 saw a high possibility of marriage with Young Forty men, compared to 26% among women aged 30 to 34, more than double the rate.

The most common natural point of contact with Young Forty men was through work relationships (56%), followed by hobbies or clubs (16%), and online communities or social networks (16%). Since most encounters occurred in work-centered environments, it was often difficult for these relationships to develop into romantic ones. However, in private settings such as blind dates, positive traits were more likely to be highlighted, leading to smoother relationship formation.

This survey was conducted by Macromill Embrain, with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of ±3.10 percentage points.