I realise that men are attracted to beauty and youth. However, I think this effect is somewhat overstated. Older women can still remain very attractive to men and have multiple suitors well into old age (and many of them do). The difference between a 25 year old and 35 year old woman (lookwise) is barely anything. Even most 40-60 year olds can be very attractive provided they didn't smoke/drink/eat heavily or have really stressful lives. I've never come across a man who said "well I would date her, but she's 48 and looks too old and past it". In short, fading looks should never be a problem for women in dating.

The problems come because older women develop bad attitudes as they get older. They get bitter, cynical, they lose much of their positive energy. Many of them come with lots of baggage - possible kids, previous divorces, mental baggage, other issues which younger women just don't have. Things like kids and divorces aren't actually a problem in and of themselves - it's how they affect her personality and attitude which is the problem.

Their standards for men rise. Any decently attractive 35-50 year old woman is ridiculously picky. They will never settle for less than perfection. Whereas your typical 18 year old girl would date the socially inept skinny emo dude, the 40 year old woman won't date anyone who is not 6'2, gorgeous face, great body, amazing in bed and 6 figure income.

So in my opinion, older women can absolutely be just as attractive as younger women, if they just had nice personalities, good attitudes and had more realistic standards for men.

I think this is partly true for men too, by the way. I've heard women say that men develop cynical and bitter attitudes as they get older and it's off-putting.