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Tue, Oct 02, 2012
The Straits Times
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"Cougar-cub" relationships more acceptable now
by Theresa Tan

With the ceaseless coverage of Hollywood celebrities in so-called cougar-cub relationships, this phenomenon may have made such pairings more socially acceptable here, said sociologist Paulin Straughan.

Famous older women include American actress Demi Moore, 49, and pop star Madonna, 54.

Moore’s ex-husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, was 15 years younger, while Madonna’s former spouse, British director Guy Ritchie, was 10 years her junior.

Marriage experts say a number of older Singaporean brides are married to younger foreigners.

Social worker Lee Yean Wun, who knows a few, including a 40-something Singaporean Eurasian housewife married to a 20-something Bangladeshi employee in a fast-food outlet, said: “They could be less hung up about the women’s age or they may be willing to settle for less, just like foreign brides who marry older men.”

Regardless of nationality, these relationships face unique challenges. The family may object. The man may feel insecure about earning less than his wife. The woman may feel increasingly uncertain about her looks as she ages, counsellors say.

But these barriers are not insurmountable.

Madam Tan said disparate earning powers were never an issue with her husband, both diploma holders. He was in his final year of polytechnic when they started dating, and she paid for most of their dates then.

“Most women still prefer a man who is financially stable but for me, feelings come first,” she said. “We really clicked and I don’t need a man to support me. I earn more than he does but we don’t mind. I also don’t expect him to contribute as much as I do to our joint bank account.”

Still, only close friends know of their age gap. It’s not something she brings up in casual conversations, to avoid gossip.

She said: “He looks more mature, and going by appearance, people wouldn’t know our age difference. So far, no one has told me that I look older than him.”


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readers' comments
So U r a lady ??? :D :D :D



Posted by Small Fly on Wed, 3 Oct 2012 at 13:09 PM
I thought only charbos visit Asiaone? :D
Posted by kuunneey on Wed, 3 Oct 2012 at 10:02 AM
I guess that's because I posted the post via Diva's homepage and it just get mirrored to this main forum. A1 has other sub-forums (which I am posting) but it doesn't get mirrored here though, eg. health, digital. So I guess our dear moderator is a guy :D
Posted by mystrawberry on Wed, 3 Oct 2012 at 09:55 AM


Think it's either got something to do with a technical bug here or .............
Posted by LouisSG74 on Tue, 2 Oct 2012 at 22:30 PM


How come you can be faster than the DIVATEAM's posting?
I saw it twice oredi. You are more tok kong than the super moderator leh *clap clap* :D
Posted by maipenrai on Tue, 2 Oct 2012 at 21:17 PM
Seldom work on our local guys with more than 5 years of age difference with their ladies. Their enormous ego .....
Posted by mystrawberry on Tue, 2 Oct 2012 at 20:53 PM

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