Do you think Age Gap is a Problem in a relationship

Hello friends, Welcome to my blog as I participate in this unique accelerator contest. This is my first time joining the rest of the honorary members and participants of this community in participating in the ongoing weekly accelerator contest. I hope to make my entry in line with the stipulated guidelines. Let's get into details, friend...

What do you understand by the word "AGE GAP" and when can we say there is one in a relationship

For some schools of thought, there is this saying that "age is just a number. But I would want to say that this quote can only be a reality when the person with the referenced age isn't in line with the realities that come with the age. They seem not to perform optimally with their years on earth. However, we cannot remove the fact that age generally comes with maturity and experience. This does not remove the differences we see along the line that comes with exceptions hence the moment it is referred to as just mere numbers.

When we talk about the "age gap" vis-a-vis relationships, this has to do with the difference in the age between partners. This may vary either on the woman being older than the male partner or vice versa. It is usually not a source of concern when the male is a few years older than the woman but at sometimes worrisome when the age difference from the man is wide.

On the other hand, in this side of the country, it is usually a source of concern on both parameters for the man when the woman is older. Be it when the age difference is on a smaller margin or wider margin, it does hamper the relationship status. The man in such circumstances may want to yield to this but the women are likely to pull out as they won't want to believe they are the more mature adults in the affairs.

So, the question of when we think there is one comes in primarily on the female gender perspective who are likely determinants of this factor. A typical African lady will not want to know that she is way older than the man she is in a relationship with. This is usually a source of concern to the woman as it is likely pronounced when they are more affected than their male counterpart.

Do you think Age-Gap is a problem in a relationship?

Personally, I do not feel or think it is an issue. This depends on our understanding and how much we can tolerate given the possible disagreements that would spring up as time goes by. Humility is the watchword here. It has to play a key role in both sides especially when the woman is older. We (men) as African people would always want to assert authority over the female gender given the skewed tradition and norms of the land that empowers the man as the head and authority bearer. The woman most times disregards a man of lesser age. They simply term them boys and wouldn't want to engage in any tangle with them.

Therefore in general, our tradition plays a major role in making sure that concerns of this nature are a problem in our relationships. It may thrive in other climes but not so well in the African continent and Nigeria as a country. The woman who is of higher age status may either decline to go further with the relationship or accept it and assert some unpronounced authority which in turn would bring chaos in the home. This is where humility is lacking or lost along the line.

The man who would want to accept this despite the age gap due to the kickbacks in view may also run into trouble when the expectations are not met over time. Asserting that man's authority in the home as the head may come with more likely weak enforcement due to this disparity.

Does the Age gap really have a way of affecting relationships? Explain and give some examples

Just as explained above, the African setting is not ripe for such a scenario. This is a place where the man is the head of the home which comes with relative authority. If that is the case, that man should be able to be in charge both in the numbers (age) and sense of discharging his responsibilities. We cannot have a woman of a higher age difference than the man and expect the same respect accorded to him.

The woman's gender is a unique one that is unpredictable in her actions and hence we cannot guarantee a lasting peace in such a relationship where he is in charge of his scenario. In a scenario where the age is skewed to the woman's gender, there are definitely going to be issues arising over time unlike when it is on the man's side.

Is there any age you are not comfortable with? If your partner has such a gap above you, what should be the normal age gap in a relationship?

There are no age concerns for me so far I am the one in the ranks. As a man, I believe my age gap to my partner should be between 2 to 5 years with me being at the front. However, there are incidences of having up to 10 years of age gap which can also be tolerable by me. I do not think that the age gap when it is in the man's favor is a problem. It is only skewed and problematic when the man is disadvantaged by having the lower numbers.

Conclusion

No doubt, age differences play a key and important role in our relationships. No woman wants a man who cannot live up to expectations and responsibilities due to immaturity. At the same time, they expect their men to be leaders, mentors, and authority house. These come with age and maturity which is a function of experience over time. This is a factor that rarely sees a woman having the upper numbers especially in Africa but rather in favor of the man. This is the African man's tradition as well as a biblical doctrine where a woman is expected to be under a man.

A woman cannot remain under a man with a higher age on her side. If this must work, an extraordinary form of humility would be required.

Thank you, great friends.