Have you ever walked down the street and there’s this one couple all lovey-dovey? But when you see their face, the woman looks pretty young, like she’s in her mid-20s, while the man has wrinkles all over his face, as if he could be a walking fossil. Many people have opinions on situations like this, but what does MECA think?
Celebrities can often influence people for their way of living; this means that whatever they do is judged by society such as, , how they act, how they dress, and when they are in a relationship. Leonardo DiCaprio is one celebrity who has chosen to date much younger individuals; it is said that he has only dated people younger than 25 years old, even though he is 50. He is now in a relationship with an Italian model, Vittoria Ceretti, who is 26. They have an age gap of 24 years.
There are a multitude of different perspectives on age gaps throughout generations. For example, many older generations think the age gap in a relationship expects the groom to be way older than the bride. Still, on the other hand, younger generations don’t support the idea of age gaps. One such individual, Elijah Venegas who is a freshman at MECA, believes that age should not be a barrier for relationships.
Makenna Chung, a ninth grader at MECA, however, states that age gaps are unacceptable; she thinks that the highest limit for the difference in ages among partners is a single year. She believes there shouldn’t be an age gap in dating as many think it is socially weird, awkward, and only to be accepted when you grow older.
Age differences can also bring up the possibility of an imbalance of power in a relationship. An older partner might assume a boss-like role even in a stable partnership.
On the other hand, Juan Alarcon, a 9th grader in a relationship for 6 months, explains why they think the age gap is standard and shouldn’t be shunned. He believes that the relationship is okay if there’s a higher commitment, trust, and lower jealousy.
“A relationship is like trying to care for two people’s happiness. As long as we are happy, it doesn’t matter because we like each other, and it’s mutual.”
Some people would choose not to be friends with those in a relationship with an age gap above their acceptable range. Some decide not to stay friends with that person, but some think that it’s adequate.
“If that’s what they’re into, I can’t do anything about it,” says Katelyn Mondragon, freshman.
Others say that because their friendship has lasted too long, they won’t just leave them like that.
“Sometimes you just have to respect their opinions because it’s the environment they grew up in,” says Alarcon. “As you grow, society shapes you. You grow up thinking different things because everyone says so.”
With people still debating whether or not age gaps are acceptable, MECA students seem to lean more toward the side that thinks it’s okay. Others say it’s unjustifiable as the younger person is more vulnerable and can be taken advantage of. With these two sides, each showing great reasoning, it seems like this argument won’t be over for a very long time.
