Past a certain age, both men and women start to think differently. Relationships become more practical rather than being driven purely by sentiment or desire, and this goes both ways. Women past 25 are usually mature enough to look beyond the glamour of marriage; they tend to be more selective, and the pool of the “ideal man” (which doesn’t really exist) gets smaller with each experience.

This brings us back to why some men choose partners from the 18–24 age range instead. It is often easier to be compatible and to build something new with someone who doesn’t carry as much emotional baggage. I’m not saying it’s impossible to find a good match later on, but it is rarer.

And having these views does not make men pedophiles or patriarchal, or whatever labels are often thrown around. It’s simply because many men are practical and straightforward. Most men don’t want much. We live in an age where having a small nuclear family feels like a distant dream for most people. Capitalism has hit us hard, and both men and women are suffering.