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DIFFERENT PREFERENCES OF

WOMEN AT DIFFERENT AGES

DATE: 20TH DEC,

2010.

NAME: A.T.M MUNTASIRUL ALAM

ID# 083 496 030

SEC: 10

COURSE: SOC 101

INSTRUCTOR: Moushumi Shabnam.

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Abstract

It is often said that females are complex, mysterious hard to understand and completely

unpredictable. But given the option, many single women wouldn't mind a committed relationship

with a cuddly, caring partnerpreferably someone with minimal emotional baggage and the

kind of income to support a nice summerhouse. When a young girl thinks of marriage, she

probably looks for someone who is good-looking, energetic, fun loving, popular and fashion

conscious. They never want a fatherly figure and they are neither worried about the financial

aspect nor do they seek any kind of security. Whereas, a young woman look for someone who is

matured, presentable, can converse with her at her intellectual level. She is usually very

concerned about husband being someone who is qualified. But a middle-age women seems to

have a mythology all of her own. She is more matured and experienced, and is aware of all the

possible things that can happen in a relationship while choosing a life partner for her daughter.

And that this research aims to show that womens choice for life partner gets more matured,

realistic and future oriented, as they grow older in life.

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Introduction

Even a couple of decades ago, women did not have much chance to choose their life partners in

our society. They had to marry someone their parents or guardians thought to be most suitable.

They were at liberty to get along with too many men and so they were not much knowledgeable

and concerned about mans nature and characteristics. But now that the society has changed so

much, they are often given the scope to choose a husband from a pool of candidates that is also

determined by the women themselves.

Now, having to decide what type of husbands they want, women might face some sort of

dilemma as to what kind of characteristics they would want to see in their potential life partner.

However, this study looks at how these preferable characteristics change with the age of women,

right from the teen-age, when they are to choose their boyfriends to a far more matured age when

they are to choose their husbands or to choose sons-in-law.

Hypothesis

My psychological knowledge says that young girls, in their unconscious mind, want someone

who is noticeable, popular and attention seeking. They enjoy and feel proud to be with such

boys. Whereas young women think that their choice would give them happy and prosperous lives

with qualified, matured and understanding persons.

METHODOLOGY

For Primary data presentation and analysis, we have used the questionnaire which consisted of

20 questions.

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Through data analysis we have found that the top two characteristics preferred by women of

different age were really contrasting. We took the interview beside us and found lots of different

preferences of women at different ages.

How old do you want your boyfriend/life partner to be?

Younger than you

Same age as you

Older than you

o

1-3 years

o 4-6 years

o 7-9 years

o Above 9 years

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Considering the preferences of women aged between 13-25 we found that 17 women prefer elder

boyfriend or life partner.

Why do you prefer so? Because you think- (you can tick more than one answer)

There will be a better understanding

The person will be more matured

You will have a different kind of experience

You will feel safer

You will enjoy his company the most

You will get your family approval

Other (please specify)

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The reason behind their preferences varies from women to women.here,10 women said that, they

will choose their boyfriend for the better understanding and only 2 of them choose safety and

security.

What type of boy/ man do you prefer as your boyfriend/ life partner?

Rank the following (1 for highest/ 5 for lowest). If dont want all the characteristics rank those

zero you dont want.

Smart

Good looking

Intelligent

Highly Qualified / Established

Good student/ Highly educated

Other (Please specify)

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At this young age most of the women prefer established and smart boyfriend.

Why do you prefer such characteristics?-(you can tick more than one answer)

It matches with your characteristics

You can stay happy

Can understand you better

You will enjoy most

Other (please specify)

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Here 10 out of 20 women said that they will choose a person for their better understanding where

5 women choose both happy life and matching of their characteristics as a reason

Why do you mostly want so?

To match with your characteristics

You can boast in front of friends

You think thats fashionable

Other (please specify)

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Do you think family background matters?

Yes, very much

Yes, to some extent

No, not really

No, not at all

If you answered any of the first two options, only then answer question no.12 and 13.

What type of family background is mostly preferable to you?

Rich

Religious

Highly educated family

Same as your family

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To match with your own family background

Other (please specify)

Here we found that family background matters to receive family approval to some extent.

And some voted for the same status like their family.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Most of my hypothesis has been successfully proved by this research. The survey and

interview showed that the teens are more concerned about good looks and present pleasure,

where as mothers and young women prefer established men, good family background and better

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future. Another hypothesis was that the mothers do not want their son in laws like their

husbands. This hypothesis of mine was not even disproved, it was correct to some extent.

Though none of them said not at all, no one even said Yes, very much, the response was

between these two.

Suggestions

The difference of preference of men will be there and it will age with age. But still, there

are some suggestions which will help all the age groups to maintain a stable and cooperative life.

In the first place, girls should not be too obsessed with the idea of having boyfriends.

Boys are not the only way to make them happy. They should concentrate more on other activities

that make their future life more secured and comfortable.

When the choices of boys come, teenage girls should not choose boys who would make their

lives complicated. They should pay importance to the honesty and sincerity of the boys in

relations as well. However, whatever is the choice of their boyfriends are, it is not supposed to

matter much as these boyfriends are less likely to be their husbands.

Women, when choosing their husbands, should rather look for men with honesty, sincerity,

responsibility and ability to be a good family-man, rather than being too specific on financial

credibility.

Parents should never be too possessive about their own choices of their son-in-laws. After all,

it is the life of their daughters and so they should consider their daughters preferences first.

However, if they find their daughters choices too much irrational they should consult with their

daughters and make a decision on co-operative basis.

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CONCLUSION

To whatever extent the parents are flexible and cooperative, the difference in preference of the

prince charming will always be there. It is woman's natural desire at each of these ages. The

success of any relationship requires that both people are constantly working on communicating

and listening to each other. Finding the right guy does not necessarily mean that, they will have a

great life. There are probably lots of people who are right for these girls, but as they mature their

definition of "Mr. Right" will change. This happens because between their teen years and

adulthood, their needs will change. For a teenage girl Mr. Right might be a guy who is good-

looking, athletic, popular, and funny. But they probably aren't thinking too much about what

kind of career he will have, what kind of income he will earn, what kind of father he will be.

These things just don't matter very much for a teenage girl, but they will matter later on.

Sometimes, the guy who is Mr. Right now turns out to be "Mr. Wrong" later on. Their needs are

going to change, and some of the kinds of things that make them happy and feel loved are going

to change, too. No matter how deeply or seriously we argue, these differences in preference will

continue to occur in future; these are the characteristics of each age group.

Bibliography

Hoffnung, Michele. Half the Human Experience: The Psychology of Women 51(2004).

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Hunt, Pet. Magazines. 2 Mar. 2006

.

Stake, Jayne E, Ed. Psychology of Women Quaterly. New York: American Psychological

Association.

Summer, Jim. Women are Only Attracted to 3 Types of Men. Aug 15. 2003.

2 Mar. 2006 .

Whitehead, Barbara Dafoe, and David Popenot. Changes in Teen Attitudes Toward

Marriage, Cohabitation and Children. 2 Mar. 2006

.

Appendix

Case study:(13-25)

In this case study I choose some of my friends and other NSU students.

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And focus on some of the question they answer :

Arifa Alam:

What type of boy/ man do you prefer as your boyfriend/ life partner?

She is thinking that during his study time she cant think without a fashionable and smart

boyfriend. But she also agrees that she is more hopeful about his life partner as an established

person.

Samira khan:

How old do you want your boyfriend/life partner to be?

She is thinking that if she choose her life partner, she will choose older then her. She will choose

her boyfriend for the better understanding.

Antara khanam:

Which type of dressing pattern do you want him to follow the most?

She said formal dress up and casual dress up is more suitable for men.

Pinkie chowdhury:

What type of family background is mostly preferable to you?

Why does family background matter?

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Family background matters for her to receive family approval to some extent.

Case study:(Average Age 47.35)

In this case study I choose some of my friends mother and other relative member.

And focus on some of the question they answer:

Rezia Begum:

How old do you want your son-in-law to be?

why do you prefer so?

She said she will choose her daughter husband older than her like 4-6 years older for her

daughter secure life.

Showkat Ara Begum:

What type of man do you prefer as your son-in-law?

Why do you prefer such characteristics?

She said highly qualified and established for her daughter happy life.

Rowshan Hakim:

Do you think family background matters?

What type of family background is mostly preferable to you for your daughter?

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Yes very much and rich also.

REASONS BEHIND THEIR PREFERENCES

Case study -1

Young girls probably look for someone who is good-looking, energetic, fun loving, popular and

fashion conscious

Finally they prefer matured person who is more established and responsible about life.

Case study-2

Most guardians like to get their girls married to a person who is from a good background, who is

more matured, highly qualified and from a religious family background.

.