Is it true that Russian women prefer older men?

I have seen this question asked many times on the Internet forums and boards dedicated to Russian brides and international dating: Is it true that Russian women prefer older men? Well, the short answer is, Baloney.

The long answer is, Don’t listen to the agency hype. Dating agencies are known to spread this rumor, telling their American clients that Russian women not only do not mind a significant age difference with their future husband but actually prefer it. Agencies are also known to push women to expand the age limit in their profile – or simply do it for them. A 25 year old girl comes in and says that she’d like to meet a man of her age or maybe 5-6 years older; the agency sees right away that she would bring them a lot of business, so they tell her that she would receive much more letters if she states that she is willing to correspond with men who are up to 50 years old. After all, she does not have to be serious with them, right? As soon as there’s correspondence, the agency is making money on letter translation, flower delivery and such.

Being a Russian woman myself, I will tell you this: there is NOTHING in the Russian culture that would suggest that having a husband twice your age is in any way cool or desirable. While such matches certainly do exist, no Russian girl will deliberately look for a husband much older than herself. Just like any other woman, a Russian woman may be willing to overlook a significant age difference if she meets a great guy, but don’t think that all those young Russian hotties are dying to marry someone their father’s age. It is simply not true.