The “Half Plus Seven” rule.

11Jan/102

The “Half Plus Seven” rule.

Have you ever heard of the "Half plus seven" rule? It's a relationship "rule" that describes a set of parameters for age differences in a relationship to make it "socially acceptable" (quotes added for ironic effect).

The saying has been around for a while... Wikipedia references it, and Urban Dictionary has an entry for "Half Plus Seven", too. There's even a page that has a half plus seven calculator for people who apparently can't do simple math in their head.

Is an age gap any wider than half plus seven really that uncomfortable to people? I guess I see things a bit differently since one of my best friends is happily married to a younger woman, and add to that the fact that I've known many couples in a (ahem) May-December romance that works out great, so it doesn't bother me at all.

It's funny that most of the vitriol that I've read online regarding this subject concerns older men and younger women together; but the idea of a Cougar or a MILF seems (more?) acceptable. That seems like some sort of reverse discrimination if you ask me.

I believe that the most important issue is whether or not a couple is happy, if they communicate well, and they genuinely care for each other. I don't care if a 40-year old woman is dating a 23-year old man, or if a 60-year old man is married to a 37-year old woman; which also happens to be the cut-off for a 60-year old according to the half plus seven rule.

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/simply_steff/ / CC BY 2.0

Tagged as: love, relationships, romance Leave a comment

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Betsy
January 17th, 2010 - 19:16
As a “May” with 4 years to go to reach the half-plus-seven point, thank you! But, funny thing is, even I sometimes think those relationships are odd. Who can read about Marilyn Manson (41) and Evan Rachel Wood (22) getting engaged and not find it disturbing? Although that may have a little more to do with their public personas (personae?)…
Jon
January 17th, 2010 - 22:38
I agree that such a large age disparity like Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood would/should give pause to most people, myself included. But still, in the end I think it’s about the people involved rather than their respective ages. It might end up bad, but when it comes to l’amour, I honestly believe that the normal rules don’t (necessarily) apply. Not even the half plus seven rule. P.S. Marilyn Manson’s an idiot for leaving Dita Von Teese for ERW.