By Olivia Tritschler
Last year I had a boyfriend who was almost 2 years older than me. There would be times when his friends would joke on him because I was about 2 years younger than him. People have strict ideas about age restrictions on relationships. Usually parents are the most limiting with whom they allow their child to date.
Opposites attract might be correct when talking about science, but when it comes to relationships, couples meet due to having something in common. Ways teens may meet others could be playing the same sport or eating at the same lunch table. Therefore there is a great possibility for a student to be attracted to someone who is a different age.
Age plays a great factor in maintaining a relationship. Maturity levels may make or break a couple. A senior thinking about going away to college could add stress to relationships. When in the same grade, memories of awkward stages might prevent relationships.
I have often heard my friends say they won’t date a younger guy, but in reality about 40% of women would rather date younger men.
Whether you go for older or younger dates, I believe there is a limit to the number of years in between the two people. It is, of course, up to the individuals in the relationship to decide, but it is nauseating to see an 18 year old dating a 13 year old, and it raises some suspicious questions. Stick to dating your peers.
De'Alva Glaspie • May 26, 2012 at 11:09 am
When younger dating at only a 2 year difference sparks complications because both of the people in the relationship are in different situations in there life. Either way at whatever age and still being an adolescence brings complications in a young one’s life. Age shouldn’t be the specific question but maturity which should be discovered before a relationship even begins. Altogether how much harm is it really dating in high school? All its doing is preparing you for when your older and married.
John Shumar • Jan 1, 2012 at 4:50 pm
The hardest part about teenagers dating someone that is several years younger or older than you is that your date is in a different stage of life than you are. If an 18 year old did date a 13 year old, the older would be thinking about college, dealing with the stresses of a higher level of education, and even voting. The younger of the two would just be entering puberty. These conflicting priorities would make it hard for the couple. However, as previously mentioned by Joseph, these problems don’t exist as you enter the twenties and thirties, because now you are both an adult.
Michaela Harrison • Jan 1, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I believer this article gave a good opinion on the question “Is age nothing, but a number?” I think the article made you consider whether or not you should date in your gave range. Personally I believe that age matters to an extent but it should not make or break a potential relationship.
Caleb Johnson • Jan 1, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Typically we associate age with maturity. However your age is sadly not always in sync with your maturity and when it comes to dating you should stick people of your own maturity. For example, if a 15 year old boy is more mature for his age naturally he would be attracted to an older more mature girl. Sadly there are people out there taking advantage of a younger date but that does not mean all age differing relationships share that quality.
Bradley Cooper • Dec 30, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Over time views have changed involving the age difference between couples. When our country was developing, and even before that, it was perfectly natural for a gap in age as much as 10-15 years. Standards have changed over the years, making couples who are less than a year apart (suppose one is 18 and one is 17) from attaining a intimate relationship by law. As long as the individuals are happy and legal, let them be.
Sarah Beth Howard • Dec 28, 2011 at 4:11 pm
In high school, I believe that age is not always the big matter. Many parents actually think about even more controversial topics when it comes to dating, and this also causes kids to make age be the last thing to think about when dating in high school. Same sex couples have been the biggest problems among my friends, as well as dating long distance, and even occasionally mixing religions and views. This makes age seem distant, but to my opinion the Prince George school system, by placing the Freshmen in a different school better narrows the age differences, even though people still do it, most couples attempt to remain in the same school. However, getting out of high school changes the dating game completely, so having a two year age difference in high school is common, and sometimes expected because most of us get tired of seeing all of the same faces within our graduating classes.
Joseph Pervall • Mar 4, 2011 at 7:19 pm
I feel like the age gap issue lessens as we get older. A 17 year old guy dating a 14 year old girl is in my opinion wrong and should not happen. However, a 27 year old and a 24 year old is perfectly normal, obviously because they are fully grown adults. Since we’re in a high school that only has grades 10-12, I feel like there really isn’t much of an age issue here.
Cara Lucy • Mar 4, 2011 at 8:56 am
I think that age differences can cause a big problem in relationships, but if it is a reasonable difference then I think it is okay. If someone who is 15 is more mature that most people their age, it is reasonable for them to date someone that is 17. But when the gap is more than 4 years I think there is a problem.
Josh Kent • Mar 3, 2011 at 7:51 pm
I think that is is somewhat of a “sensitive” subject. People date someone becuase they feel some sort of affection for the other person, in most cases. I don’t think taht a 1 year age difference is really taht big of a deal at all, but I totally agree with the 18 year old dating a 13 year old it jsut doesn’t seem right.
haley matheny • Mar 1, 2011 at 9:09 pm
I agree that the age issue shouldn’t be the main concern, it’s the maturity. Yes, technically it is illegal for say a 16 and 18 year old to date but it happens and they can be very happy. Eyebrows shouldn’t be raised nearly as much at other people’s relationships when it is their choice to be in it.
Evan May • Jan 14, 2011 at 9:03 pm
People have the freedom to be with who they want, but there is a certain point that it goes to far. One or two years is nothing, beyond that and it is a little creepy. Like I said, people can be with who they want, but they should try and stay within their age range. If your 19, you should not date a 15 or even a 16 year old.
Carrie Young • Jan 13, 2011 at 9:27 pm
I think when age gaps are too big in adolescent dating, it may mean that either the guy or the girl can’t find anyone their age that’s interested, so they look elsewhere, such as in different age groups. I think a difference in age can be nice, but when it’s 4 years or more, I don’t really see what the two people would have in common.
Madison Guidry • Dec 17, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I agree that there is a limit. I think you should be happy, but I find it hard to believe that 18 and 13 year olds have that much in common. Not only is it weird, but people need to realize either that they need to mature and stop dating younger people or stop trying to act cool and date older people.
Malikah Williams • Dec 17, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I do think that there has to be a certain limit. And I also agree with Rachel in saying that maturity is the main issue, not so much age.
Alex Martinez • Dec 17, 2010 at 9:48 am
An 18 year old dating a 13 year old is stretching it a bit, but I think that one can not pick an age boundary without some arbitrarity. Therefore, I think that puberty is the true boundary. If the relationship is consensual and both parties involved have or have not hit puberty, then I think that it is ok for them to date.
Rachel Arnold • Dec 15, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Age isn’t as big a deal to me as maturity is. I could care less how old you are but if I’m talking about colleges and you’re stuck on high school drama then there is a problem. Of course that’s my opinion, but I think a lot of people can relate to that.
Rachel Waymack • Dec 15, 2010 at 2:40 pm
I don’t think age is of large importance, especially once both of the people are adults. As to the 18 year old and 13 year old, i think a pretty safe guideline would be that minors should date other minors and adults should date other adults.
Chris Bae • Dec 14, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I can understand that age gap can play a role in relationships, but what matters more is the maturity level on each individual. Most teenagers don’t really understand what love and dating is about. Age gap is just one factor that plays a role in love and dating, but it’s not the biggest factor in relationships.
Jessica Taylor • Dec 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I do not see the big deal when it comes to age. Unless, of course, it’s that 18 and 13 year old. I would not have a problem dating a younger guy. I prefer older, but as long as he’s not too much younger and I really like him then I would go for it.
Raya Girard • Dec 7, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I think that age is a much bigger deal right now than it will ever be again. It is really no big deal if a 30 year old dates a 25 year old . But they were once 18 and 13.Once you are considered an adult , age difference isn’t that big of a social stigma. People still raise their eyebrows at really old men dating young, beautiful women if there is like a
20 year age difference.
Haseena Abdur-Rahman • Dec 4, 2010 at 1:30 pm
An 18 year old dating a 13 year old does raise some suspicious questions, however, an increase in societal acceptance towards adolecent relationships has widened the scope for plenty of people who can now look outside the confines of their own age groups in their pursuit of the perfect match. I’m not saying that I agree with the terms of someone like an 18 year old dating a 13 year old because I don’t condone with the behavior of an adult dating a minor with the exception of certain circumstances like arranged marriages. I’m just saying that in this scenario, with the permission of participant’s parent or legal gaurdian, I’m ok with it since I think that the age that you are chronologically doesn’t necessarily equate to a certain level of maturity or even attitude or interests.
shelby reynolds • Dec 3, 2010 at 8:34 am
I definately am one of those people who do not like the idea of dating youger. Im not sure if its cause im a girl or what but i pretty much refuse to. It seems like it would be a project, not a realationship.