This article discusses two charts from the book "Dataclysm" that plot the following:

  • a man's a age vs. the age of women who look best to him
  • a woman's age vs. the age of men who look best to her

Here are the charts side by side.

They've been referenced on PPD multiple times, but I'm bringing it back per a few comments I related to in the "How do you feel about wrinkles?" OP:

This comment:

I'm old (around age 50) and I'm currently OK with them. When I was in my teens and twenties I thought they were repulsive and wrong. I went back and looked at a bunch of photos a friend had from the late 80s recently and the guys who I thought were unattractive old wrinkly perverts at the time (age 30ish when I was 18) now look like innocent babies to me.

This comment:

I love them on a handsome older man now that I am old now.

This comment thread:

Her: I'm pretty much only attracted to young looking guys. I don't really like any signs of aging in a man, but maybe when I'm older I will change my preference.

OP: How old are you?

Her: 18

I'm generalizing and pulling based on my preferences and the preferences of most women I know, but that chart is pretty accurate to me. When I was younger I genuinely thought older men looked old and gross and older was 27 to my 16.

But by the time I hit 23 I thought 18 year old boys honestly looked like children. And 26 year old men were more appealing.

It's true. I genuinely find attractive men who are closest in age to me, which understandably feels "subjective" to men.

I can't tell if it's a inherent, "Well I know men my age might actually find me attractive which triggers my desire?" Or too old feels creepy and gross and too young makes me feel creepy and gross because they look so young which isn't sexy to me.

Ladies, how would you explain it?

Men, have you noticed this?