I hate the term cougar for a woman who likes younger men. I mean, hate it with a grand passion that stirs up all my feminine outrage. It’s not a nice term. It’s not sexy. It’s derogatory.
Everyone has preferences. I like dark men with dark or green eyes. I also tend toward men my own age (which to a younger woman would be older men, LOL) So a woman has a preference for a younger man. That automatically makes her a predator? Really? Why and who decided that? You tell me, is Ashton Kucher being taken advantage of by Demi Moore?
It’s not something I’d celebrate if that was my personal preference - to be referred to as a cougar. And seriously, if a book is marketed that way, I’d never buy it. Older woman/younger man book, fine! If it works for the story, I think it’s an interesting dynamic. But if it’s marketed like “oh she’s on the prowl for that young man meat!” I throw up in my mouth a little.
Your preferences may vary.
I have an ow/ym book and had a great time writing it. I find the term cougar to be rather stupid and yes demeaning. It’s fine for an older man to be with a younger woman but an older woman with a younger man? So she’s on the prowl? Puh-leez.
I agree with you McRantypants.
by Karen Erickson June 29th, 2008 at 11:17 amI enjoy writing - and reading - older woman/younger man stories and I think they make for a rich vein of complex emotion.
But I too hate that ‘oh, she’s older she must be on the prowl’ vibe… and l hate, despise, loathe and detest the term ‘cougar’!!!
by Portia Da Costa June 29th, 2008 at 12:16 pmWell, that explains the titles with Cougar in them (never heard that turn until the last couple of months with all the books ELC has been putting out about May-Dec. Romances.
I have read a few but frankly I don’t care for ow/ym books all that much unless it is only a few years different. I get tired of the whining angst about age by the heroine. But not to discriminate, I am not that much of a fan of books where the man is CONSIDERABLY older than the woman.
by Tina S. June 29th, 2008 at 5:41 pmI’ve never heard that term, but I have to say I’d find it rather crude. (I am in an ow/ym relationship myself, 8 years gap, 8 years in, and very happy thank you. Of course it helps that he is the most mature man i’ve ever met, ahem..) I wonder who these books are being marketed at? Not strictly women, is my guess.
by Saskia June 29th, 2008 at 11:57 pm