Cougar Women and Toy Boy Men

So what do you think about the furore over the relationship of TV presenter Caroline Flack and One Direction’s Harry Styles? If those names mean nothing to you, the loved up X Factor presenter and popstar have been causing a bit (okay a lot) of a stir. Why? Well because she’s 32 and he’s 17. As a result their relationship has been labelled on one side as ‘vile’ and ‘disgusting’ and on the other a triumph for the cougar woman. Caroline has said, ‘I shouldn’t have to worry about what I do but people aren’t accepting of big age gaps’. However, it’s probably closer to the truth to say people aren’t accepting of big age gaps when the woman is the older person. Let’s face it the world is littered with older men and younger women and most get by without criticism of any sort. I myself know at least three couples where the man is 15 years older, and no-one has ever said anything about them. Aside from double standards (which are obviously at work here), what makes many feel uncomfortable, is not the age gap but the fact that Harry Styles is so young. Yes, it’s not illegal and he’s not your average teenager but as a mum I wouldn’t be too happy if my 17-year old son or daughter came home with a 32-year old partner. I’d worry about what was going on, the long-term effect and what my own child was getting from this relationship. But what do you think? Would you let your son date a woman 15 years older? Or should we just let them be? Let me know.