I 've read somewhere that women past childbearing age (~45 years up)
look for different characteristics in a potential mate than women in
their 20s and 30s.
Presumably, this is because they are no longer looking for a "Dad."

(Unfortunately, I cannot remember if I read this in a sociobiology
textbook or a newspaper. I must be getting old.  heh  heh   heh)

A 5-star answer would be one web link to data that quantifies this
phenomenon.  Even better:  an article published in a scholarly
journal, book, or well-respected popular magazine.

All comments greatly appreciated !
Thanks.
ron

---

Clarification of Question by nronronronro-ga on 26 May 2003 00:25 PDT

sublime1---terrific.  Please post as an answer so I can pay you.  Thx.  ron

ron...

Thanks for your approval of my comment. I have reproduced
it below, per your request.

********************************************************

I'm afraid that, in the course of my extensive research, 
I did not find any studies that contrasted younger and 
older responses within a single study, so I took it upon 
myself to find separate surveys for the young and the  
elderly, and contrast them for myself. 

What I found does not support what you read elsewhere: 
 
As for the younger crowd, an ongoing poll at Sparklit.com 
indicates that, of 93 respondents (both male and female) 
over half of which are under 35, the most important traits 
in a potential partner are: 
 
trustworthy (21)               23% 
honest (19)                    20% 
intelligent (18)               19% 
good sense of humor (11)       12% 
considerate of others (10)     11% 
good conversationalist (6)      6% 
rich (4)                        4% 
hardworking (3)                 3% 
romantic (1)                    1% 
athletic (good at sports) (0)   0% 
 
http://vote.sparklit.com/survey/543206?ns=16 
 
 
For the older gang, a survey by the National Council on Aging 
released in September 1998, gives the following results: 
 
"The surveyed seniors were also asked what qualities they 
 look for in a romantic partner. Nine out of 10 respondents 
 (both men and women) identified a high moral character, a 
 pleasant personality, a good sense of humor, and 
 intelligence as important qualities in a partner." 
http://www.ncoa.org/content.cfm?sectionID=105&detail=128 
 
 
So, side by side: 
 
            Seniors                 Juniors(?) 
            -------                 ---------- 
 
1)    high moral character       trustworthy/honest 
 
2)    pleasant personality        intelligent 
 
3)    good sense of humor       good sense of humor 
 
4)      intelligence           considerate of others 
 
Let's say that 'pleasant personality' and 'considerate of others' 
are equivalent, and 'high moral character' = 'trustworthy/honest'. 
 
The qualities that matter are essentially the same. It would 
simply seem that being 'pleasant and considerate' becomes 
more important than your IQ in the older crowd, but these 
both remain important and desirable traits. 
 
 
Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by means of a dialog
established through the "Request for Clarification" process.

sublime1-ga 
 
 
Searches done, via Google: 
 
"younger versus older" "ideal partner" 
://www.google.com/search?q=%22younger+versus+older%22+%22ideal+partner%22
 
generation "ideal partner" 
://www.google.com/search?q=generation+%22ideal+partner%22 
 
generation "ideal romantic partner" 
://www.google.com/search?q=generation+%22ideal+romantic+partner%22
 
"ideal romantic partner" 
://www.google.com/search?q=%22ideal+romantic+partner%22 
 
"ideal partner" 
://www.google.com/search?q=%22ideal+partner%22 
 
"ideal partner" survey OR study results 
://www.google.com/search?q=%22ideal+partner%22+survey+OR+study+results
 
women "past childbearing" qualities sought in a partner 
://www.google.com/search?q=women+%22past+childbearing%22+qualities+sought+in+a+partner
 
"older women" qualities sought in a partner 
://www.google.com/search?q=%22older+women%22+qualities+sought+in+a+partner

Thank you!  ron

nronronronro...

I'm afraid that, in the course of my extensive research,
I did not find any studies that contrasted younger and
older responses within a single study, so I took it upon
myself to find separate surveys for the young and the 
elderly, and contrast them for myself.

What I found does not support what you read elsewhere,
so I will post it as a comment, pending your approval.

As for the younger crowd, an ongoing poll at Sparklit.com
indicates that, of 93 respondents (both male and female)
over half of which are under 35, the most important traits
in a potential partner are:

trustworthy (21)               23%
honest (19)                    20%
intelligent (18)               19%
good sense of humor (11)       12%
considerate of others (10)     11%
good conversationalist (6)      6%
rich (4)                        4%
hardworking (3)                 3%
romantic (1)                    1%
athletic (good at sports) (0)   0%

http://vote.sparklit.com/survey/543206?ns=16


For the older gang, a survey by the National Council on Aging
released in September 1998, gives the following results:

"The surveyed seniors were also asked what qualities they
 look for in a romantic partner. Nine out of 10 respondents
 (both men and women) identified a high moral character, a
 pleasant personality, a good sense of humor, and
 intelligence as important qualities in a partner."
http://www.ncoa.org/content.cfm?sectionID=105&detail=128


So, side by side:

            Seniors                 Juniors(?)
            -------                 ----------

      high moral character       trustworthy/honest

      pleasant personality        intelligent

      good sense of humor       good sense of humor

        intelligence           considerate of others

Let's say that 'pleasant personality' and 'considerate of others'
are equivalent, and 'high moral character' = 'trustworthy/honest'.

The qualities that matter are essentially the same. It would
simply seem that being 'pleasant and considerate' becomes
more important than your IQ in the older crowd, but these
both remain important and desirable traits.


If this satisfies your interests, let me know, and I'll
post it as a formal answer.

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via Google:

"younger versus older" "ideal partner"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22younger+versus+older%22+%22ideal+partner%22

generation "ideal partner"
://www.google.com/search?q=generation+%22ideal+partner%22

generation "ideal romantic partner"
://www.google.com/search?q=generation+%22ideal+romantic+partner%22

"ideal romantic partner"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22ideal+romantic+partner%22

"ideal partner"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22ideal+partner%22

"ideal partner" survey OR study results
://www.google.com/search?q=%22ideal+partner%22+survey+OR+study+results

women "past childbearing" qualities sought in a partner
://www.google.com/search?q=women+%22past+childbearing%22+qualities+sought+in+a+partner

"older women" qualities sought in a partner
://www.google.com/search?q=%22older+women%22+qualities+sought+in+a+partner