Do you think a 16 year age gap between two persons who are in a relationship can work out?

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 1

I don't think we should allow society to dictate age restrictions in relationships. There is a 21 year age gap between my boyfriend and I (I'm 27). I have never been happier in my life. Just like with any relationship, it needs to have the essentials like trust, understanding, communication, interests, goals, etc. If those elements are in place, then nothing else matters. Love is the greatest feeling in the world, and age shouldn't stop anyone from experiencing it.

Answer 2

Depends on how old they are. Is it an 18 year old and a 34 year old? (Not going to work.) Is it a 34 year old and a 50 year old? Could work. 60 and a 76 year old? Also maybe. What matters most is that both people are in the same place in their life and you don't have the situation where one has so much growing to do that they will almost certainly be too different from the other who is more settled.

Also, it really depends what you are looking for in a relationship -- if you are aiming for a partner in every thing you do, that's a problem. A teacher-studing thing is also a problem. But if your relationship is just a part (an important part) of your life, then you can be ok.

Answer 3

Wow, 16 years. If one is 10 and the other is 26, i think there may be a number of problematic issues, not the least of which would be 20 YEARS IN PRISON!!!

Or 18 and 34, ok, a little bit of an eyebrow raiser, but probably work ok.

Now eventually, it will be 34 and 50. That would be the "trophy wife" stage. If you're an active 50 year old, it might work ok. If not, expect 34 year old to be stepping out while 50 is taking a nap before bedtime.

But who knows, it could be all good.

Answer 4

My cousin married a man who was 32 years older, and they were devoted to each other until he died at age 92 a few weeks ago.

So yes, it can work out.

........BUT.......

It helps if the two people are beyond their twenties. A relationship between a 30-year-old and a 46-year-old is very different from a relationship between a 13-year-old and a 29-year-old.

One of the problems is that a difference of 16 years means that the two people probably went through childhood in very different eras, in terms of their music, what was considered cool, the availability of drugs, the availability of the Internet, etc. As a result, they are likely to have different interests, different outlooks, different hangups, etc.

It helps a lot if they have a shared interest or passion (other than their interest and passion in each other). Perhaps second-best would be if one person is totally fascinated with the other and is willing to do anything that the other wants to do.

Just some observations. Please get lots and lots of observations and get to know each other very well before you do something that you may later wish you could undo.

Answer 5

I think that would really depend on the ages of the parties involved. I don't think it is that odd for a woman of 40 to date a man in his mid/upper 50's or even 60's due to the fact that both are definately adults and have experienced most of what life has to offer at that point in their lives. However, when we are talking a 20 year old or less with someone 16 years older... I have serious reservations. Why would someone so young not want to be with someone their own age and why would someone of such a mature age think that a relationship with someone only starting out in life experience process would work?

Answer 6

Hell, yeah, I am married to a man that is 15 years older than I.We started dating when I was 16, he was 31.He knew me since I was 12.Once we got together when I was 16, he became my one and only! We are still together, we have two sons.One 20, the other 13.We have only been married for almost 11 1/2 years.But have been together as a couple all these years.Age does not matter, if you love each other, go for it! I never thought I would fall deeply in love with a man that was at least 15 years older than I.If you and your mate are happy, what is the problem? Without loving someone, we are empty beings!

Answer 7

Advantages are with the older person, hopefully its a guy. They get to mack on total hottie!!

Disadvantages are that the older person has to relive all the experiences that the younger person is going through for the 1st time, and its bad for both people coz the younger 1 wants to discover the world with someone who hasnt been there n done that.

Answer 8

Most definetly. Ive been with my husband for almost 5 years now. He's my younger by 24 years. Honestly, Ive never been happier. He's more of a man than half the men my age. As for advantages and disadvantages it all depends on the people. Just for the record he's 20 and I just turned 45

Answer 9

Depends on the maturity level of both parties involved. As long as both are consenting adults then I don't see a problem with it. If it is like 18 and 34 I don't know because maturity levels may not be the same. Late or mid 20's and up yes I think there is a very likely possibiliby that it will work.

Answer 10

It depends on the ages. Advantages are that you each have something to give. Disadvantages are that you may be in a time in your life where the other person doesn't understand. If someone is the older person there is the problem that they will grow old first, become senile, and you have to take care of them. My friend's mom is seventy and her husband is eighty and she is really active and he isn't. He needs taken care of and it makes her mom feel tied and old herself.