When you ask women today — especially those ready to leave single life behind and commit to a serious relationship, many will tell you they prefer someone older than them.

On their dating scale, older men get a solid “yes,” men the same age are “just okay,” and younger men are a definite “no.” While they may say “age doesn’t matter,” for women with high standards, it often takes a real, mature man to win their hearts.

Marriage.com reports that, according to research, “74 percent of women in age-gap relationships are securely attached.”

For movie enthusiasts, this might explain the timeless appeal of classic Hollywood romances like Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, My Fair Lady, and Roman Holiday, where the leading man is often older and exudes a certain dignity.

In real life, celebrity couples echo this sentiment. Actress Pauleen Luna and veteran host Vic Sotto, married in 2016, say they hardly ever quarrel. Despite their 34-year age gap, their relationship remains strong and happy, blessed with two children.

Similarly, fashion icon Heart Evangelista once revealed in her 2022 vlog with Senator Chiz Escudero that age has not been an issue between them.

“I read Memoirs of a Geisha when I was really young. I don’t know if it messed me up in a way, but I was always looking for somebody older — someone who could save me like a knight in shining armor. I felt so good talking to someone dignified, with gravitas. And then I met you,” she said.

So, what exactly makes older men so attractive to Gen Z women?

• Emotional maturity

Women, especially strong, independent ones, look for someone they can depend on, not someone who feels like another responsibility to attend to. Research commissioned by Nickelodeon UK found that women reach full emotional maturity at 32, while men do so at 43. That’s quite a gap, and one Gen Z DAILY TRIBUNE reader even said, “Based on experience, some of them never grow up at all.”

• Long-term commitment

Older men often don’t waste time playing the field or letting go of girls when things get tough. They tend to back up romantic gestures with genuine commitment. As they say, when you know the clock is ticking, you focus on what truly matters.

• Financial stability

This is not about sugar daddies or wealthy old men — it’s about having a stable career and savings to support a family. Gen Z women are capable of earning their own living, but many believe men should still provide a sense of financial security.

Ultimately, this preference is not just shaped by peer influence or media portrayals. It is also rooted in a modern reality where women play vital roles alongside men, often competing in spaces that were once exclusively male. If they can already survive and thrive on their own, what they seek is someone they can look up to — someone who offers genuine support.