True is a Function of Culture and Location
[QUOTE=Anthony2023;2787745]I was talking with a family member who's almost 60 and I asked her what does she think when she sees a 60 yr old man with a 20 yr old women?
She told me she just feels bad for the girl because she has to put up with that old man's smell for the money LMAO.
I said how so? And she explained to me how it doesn't matter how many products you use on your skin, when you age there's no way to avoid the ph levels in your skin. I said what do you think about men who think women prefer them over younger guys, she laughed and said they are delusional.[/QUOTE]I don't think your "almost" 60 year old family member is being dishonest with you. (But you know her better than anyone here). BUT she may be expressing an opinion that is based on her life experience and the cultural norms of where she has spent her life.
If there is one thing that I routinely see here in Colombia, it is Americans who expect their values are universal and anyone who thinks or acts differently is odd / strange / wierd etc etc etc.
In Latin America there is a machismo mindset that still exists today. It was pretty universal in the US until the 70's /80's. Let me give you an example. Years ago in anticipation of retirement I started taking Spanish lessons from a well known professor here in Medellin. She told me she graduated from a University with a degree in Engineering. She said she finished 2nd in her class of 35 (I'm generally remembering what she told me). Well the job offers came piling in and she was offered a position with a salary commensurate with the lowest male graduate in her class. She was furious and pursued a career in teaching languages (English to Spanish speakers, Spanish to English speakers and Portuguese to either group).
Women are urged to be very receptive to older successful men. Why? Because it is a cultural norm that dates back many centuries. Even in a world where women are granted much more latitude in their career options. Machismo still dominates. I have gone out to restaurants with many younger women (20's-30's) and I never get as much as a raised eyebrow. One reason may be that my companions have been very judicious in their choice of clothing. If she is dressed provocatively like a street-walker we are absolutely not going out anywhere.
BTW I see many young attractive women eating with Colombian men who are clearly older. That too draws no attention. Many young women are taught to choose a companion who is successful and who can help the family when needed. The thing about older men having a smell is patently ridiculous. There is a modern invention that takes care of that. It is called soap and water.
So just to summarize. If you think that being in your mid to late 30's gives you a big advantage in dating women here, well, not so much. The big factor that will really differentiates someone younger versus someone like me is that I live here. Dating someone who is here for two weeks and then gone makes it a more transactional process.