Cougars

The term cougar is used to refer to an older woman (usually 35 or 40 years and above) who sleeps with younger men (usually in their 20s). The term gained popularity in American culture in the late 1990s to early 2000s and has both positive and negative cultural representations and meanings for women.

Like her feline counterpart, the cougar is known as a predator, using her years of experience in the dating realm to stalk and hunt her human prey. Once she has captured her man, the cougar may additionally use her money and financial assets to keep him cared for, her knowledge and life experience to keep him interested, and her matured sexuality to keep him satisfied; or she may choose to be more fickle in her tastes and return to the bar or club, which is generally recognized as her primary hunting ground, to entice more younger men to her bed.

Cougar is a slang term that originated in Canada. Early uses of the term include the creation of the Website http://www.cougardate.com in 1999 and the book Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men in 2001 by Canadian author Valerie Gibson, both intended to assist women in being successful cougars. Some sources credit Canadian hockey players for creating the term prior to 1999 in reference to female fans but this is not documented. Recent cultural representations of cougars include the 2007 reality show Age of Love, characters Gabrielle on Desperate Housewives and Samantha on Sex and the City, the 2009 television series Cougar Town, and the 2009 film Chéri. Famous celebrity cougars include Demi Moore, Halle Berry, Kim Cattrall, and Madonna.