The reason age gap relationships between adults are stigmatized in the US (and the Anglosphere) is because of higher ages of consent

[Aladin]

It’s pretty simple. When an older man dates an 18 year old, the response is “he’s only doing so because he can’t go lower.” However this is false in because the age of consent is 16 in most states, however people are brainwashed to think it’s 18 everywhere. In Europe age gaps between adults are less stigmatized, especially in central and Eastern Europe, since the ages of consent are lower (14-15). Basically, instead of black and white, it’s black-grey-white.

Black: below age of consent, illegal
Grey: equal to age of consent, legal but socially unacceptable
White: above age of consent by a margin, legal and socially acceptable

Conclusion? Even if there is no desire to date below 18, having the age of consent at 18 vs lower than 18 does impact society’s view of you being with a woman below 21, thus it can matter for you.

 

[iwanttohavesex]

age gap relationships should be more normalised