This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Before we start, this isn’t about how good you are.
More about how bad communication can be between the sexes.
The Hungarian born author Stephen Vizinczey was no oil painting. He’d probably be the first to admit that. But in 1965 he self-published a book which became a modern classic. In his introduction he wrote: “I am not an expert on sex, but I was a good student of the women I loved and I’ll try to recall those happy and unhappy experiences which I believe made a man of me”. Today ‘In Praise of Older Women’ remains a relevant read.
In 2019, Yann Moix, a French presenter, director, award-winning writer (and another male who doesn’t trouble David Gandy at night) gave an interview to Marie Claire magazine in which he stated women over 50 were “too old to love”.
“I prefer younger women’s bodies, that’s all. End of. The body of a 25 year old woman is extraordinary. The body of a woman of 50 is not extraordinary at all”. He went on to say he was “incapable” of loving a women over 50 or above, despite being 50 himself.
The inevitable social media backlash ensued including some ladies posting pictures of their behinds.
Europe 1 Radio commentator Anne Roumanoff pointed out romance was “Not just about the firmness of the buttocks but a connection between two people”. “I hope one day he knows this happiness.”
In a later response during a RTL radio interview, Moix stated he was not “responsible” for his taste in women. Taken on face value this comment appears ridiculous, but I’ll explain why it may not be in a moment. Here’s another pearl of his wisdom.
“I like who I like and I don’t have to answer to the court of taste. 50 year old women do not see me either. They have something else to do than to get around a neurotic who writes and reads all day long. It’s not easy to be with me”.
I think we can take that as a given, although not “answering to the court of taste” is a phrase I might file away for future use.
Moix is a well known self-publicist. Vizinczey was too, although in a different sense. Both love women and both stated their preference. It’s a free world (unless you live in North Korea).
None of the above however seem to recognise the basic law of Nature. The male is designed to procreate.
That’s his job.
Quite often in the lower orders he is then eaten by the female. In human civilised society the females generally don’t go there, although I suspect some may make an exception in Monsieur Moix’s case.
He has what I term the Rod Stewart Syndrome (from the Greek meaning concurrence). This is an Alpha male who is attracted to a younger woman to ensure his sperm will stand more chance of passing on his genes. Rod doesn’t know Mother Nature is pulling his strings. Today that’s Penny Lancaster’s job.
If Mr Stewart were Desmond Morris he may defend himself by saying the human body has a built in obsolescence and by constantly re-jumbling up the genetic material with each new generation we create the possibility of evolutionary change.
Or he may just prefer blondes.
Lots of successful older men are shown in the media with younger women. But as ever, underneath the tip of the iceberg are millions of ordinary men like me who love a mature lady. At this point I could start spouting statistics to support this. However I suspect that’s not what you want. I hope you’d rather prefer to know what I personally think.
A woman’s age to a man like me is a major opportunity to show her how valued she is.
Women are wonderful at whatever age they are and in whatever condition. Firstly they look much better than we do. The evidence is all around.
When you’re next on your travels look at the advertising. Notice how much more women are used.
This is because they’re more attractive and sell better. Sure a younger body works, but notice how many older women are out there. Knowledge and style sells.
There is a school of thought which believes if women were in charge there would be no war. If Hilary Clinton ran the White House, would the world be a better place? If Michelle Obama ran for President would she do a better job?
As the British Prime Minister (and only the second woman ever to have done so) Theresa May was unelected but remains the leader of the United Kingdom at a time of enormous division. I suspect history will be kind – and grateful to her husband into who’s arms she sinks each evening.
Stephen Vizinczey’s father was shot by the Nazi’s when he was two years old. There is some justice in that his son protected by his frightened mother grew to become a writer saying what he felt and proving Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s words “the pen is mightier than the sword”.
Recently I’ve had sublime experiences with my grand-daughter Emila-Rose who is now 8 months old and Maisie a 94 year old former next door neighbour of my mother.
Emila looks up at me as I hold her with a wonder only a baby’s eyes can with all her life before her.
Maisie is Welsh, has outlived both her husbands and remains supportive of me, as I do her. Although her fingers cannot knit now, she had a white baby jumper made for Emila – and her watery eyes conveyed the same female message as she gave it to me for her.
Age is unimportant. What should be (Mr Moix) is decency and love.