Can you marry an older woman

By Bose Oluwakeyede

After twelve years of blissful marriage, Kola discovered Titi was older than him. This became a problem. He thought of so many things. He felt Titi hid her age from him because of her desperation to get a man to marry. Since Titi could not help it again, she opened up that her mother had told her a wrong age due to the misplacement of her birth certificate.

Titi got to know her real age when she found her birth certificate including her other siblings some where in the corner of her mother’s room after her demise. Kola got the news of this from Titi and it became a tug of war. They tried to manage the home but it had could not beas before.

Kola could not imagine himself marrying a woman older than him and this was also a shock to his wife, Titi. This created a communication barrier in the home.

But Titi took a very bold step. She called Kola, with a humble heart, rededicated her vow to her husband and promised not to be rude to him in anyway.

Kola also promised to be a soulmate and not make life difficult for Titi and so they continued with their union. How many couples in this same situation would be able to stand? How many men who have found would be able to go on with his marriage if after being married they found out, thattheir wives are older? Would they let the marriage be as peaceful and blissful as before?

If you are the one, would you marry a woman older than you in age? Mens Roundtable went to town to get responses. Excerpts:
Age is no barrier in marriage. It is all about understanding and accepting differences. Aside the age difference, there are other barriers in marriage that had torn many marriages apart. If I marry a woman that is far older than me, I would shower my love on her so much that she would not feel bad that she has married her younger brother as a husband it is all about love and understanding. I will just be prayerful to God that I would not fall into a problem beyond my capability such that my wife now takes over the home. I will be committed, dedicated and honest to her so that she would not at one time or the other feel bad of ever marrying me.
Thomas Obada

It is not easy to do so but if God wishes that I marry a woman older than me. I will just be careful and committed to her. I will make sure I make her feel loved and avoid any quarrel or misunderstanding that may lead to physical fight. I will not cease to become the head of the home. I will be committed to her and my home and she should be submissive to me because no matter the age, I am still the head of the house. We will both be honest to each other.
Shina Adetoye

I can never marry a lady that I am younger than. It could be demeaning. Such ladies could limit the man from performing his role as the head of the house. Apart from that, the man would not have full access to controlling his home because he would be conscious of his wife’s age and would be careful in correcting or instructing his wife in the home. It is not a good thing. A man who marries a lady younger than him still finds it difficult to control her let aloneone that is older.
Ojo Oluwaseun

I can never marry a lady older than me. I have heard of a case whereby the man became a figure head, the woman took over and poisoned the children’s hearts against their father.

They always had quarrels and because the man was younger, he had to keep quiet for the woman which is not supposed to be. It is a common phenomenon that the man should be older than the woman. If the reverse is the case, it depends on the understanding of the two parties. If they could go on without having problems, they should continue in it. But if the man studies during courtship that the woman is behaving arrogantly, the best advise is for the man to call off the relationship and get a better alternative. Marrying a woman older than the man is not advisable but it depends understanding between the two parties.
Olanipekun Kunle

Understanding matters. The fact that I marry a lady older than I am does not mean I will lose my authority in the home. I also will not relent in performing my responsibilities well and as expected, and I would accord her the respect due to her and make sure that I do not give room for quarrel that will bring about that difference in our ages. I will just make sure I coordinate my home very well.
John Akins

If I marry a lady older than me, it means she would be older than all my siblings and the required respect that is expected from her would be absent. There is no way I will not have problems in my home and one has to be very careful. If my spouse is the type that hates to be insulted, and one of my siblings insults her and she flares up, or engages in a war with my family, how then would I have peace and have a blissful home? That a man may marry an older woman is not strange but they should plan it well and the woman should be of lowly spirit so that she can have a lasting marriage and home.
Akinjuyigbe Olorunfemi

When a woman is older than her husband, it will be so obvious to people. The man would show it because he would be very careful in ruleing the home. That is when we see these days some men calling their wives “mummy”. You would think they are respectful or trying to be peaceful. It is just because some of them do not know the names to give their spouse due to the age barrier. I can never marry a woman older than me and I can never advise my enemy to do the same. I cannot put my life into distress because of a woman.
Alamu Oluwatosin

I cannot marry a woman older than me because after some years of living together, the woman will be depreciating in beauty and I will still remain strong and still expect her to perform her sexual roles very well so as not to engage in extra-marital affairs. I want my wife intact and that is the more reason I would marry a lady younger then me so that she would be able to match me while growing old.
Stephen Olaifa