Do women over 50 date? The truth about what women really want.

Do women over 50 date at all?

Many women over 50 are dating, and tons or women over 50 have given up on dating altogether, there are still who are undecided!

I have learned some interesting things from the women over 50 who are still dating:

• They don’t take dating seriously.
• They are not looking for a husband.
• Many are dating younger men and aren’t getting attached to them; they are dating for fun.
• Finding the “right man”, a “husband”, or a “partner” is not a priority.
• Some women are still looking for their “other half” and have complex strategies about how to date.
• I thought that many of the women who are looking for a partner have a crazy and unattainable list of what this person should be like.
• Many women over 50 date just for the company, so they do a type of “serial dating” and never get involved.
• I have met a few women over 50 who take dating seriously and are looking for a husband.

Why are women over 50 not dating?

I had a blast researching why women stopped dating. I am in this group, so I know my reasons, but they seem pretty dull compared to these fabulous ladies!

• A woman over 50 went on a date to a nice restaurant, suggested by her date, only to find out that he needed a place to live because he ran out of money. By the way, this happened to several ladies.
• One of the ladies was offered investment opportunities instead of a next date.
• Another lady became a therapist for twenty minutes and got up and left without saying a word.
• Her date asked her to show her breasts during coffee at a cafe in the afternoon.
• A man invited my friend to an expensive restaurant, one of her favorite places. He got up to go to the bathroom before dessert and never returned.
• My friend left her phone on the table when she went to the bathroom. When she returned, the person and her phone were no longer there. The person got into her bank account and did quite a bit of damage. She tried to get in touch with him, but was ghosted.
• Many women prefer to make the effort to meet other single friends and create platonic friends with whom they can travel, do activities, shop, lunch, and chat without any social pressure.

Why is it so difficult to connect with men after 50?

I think we need to define the word connect and then we can try to understand what is going on. 

Connect to many people means to “get to know,” someone by chatting, doing things together to know the person better in natural situations, feeling comfortable sharing things and to trust. 

Many people think that connect is to have sex.

I had dinner with a male friend who said he wanted to have sex with me. I had dinner with him before and told him that I was only intersted in being a friend and I guess he preferred to ignore this by proposing again.  This man told me that he would have to find someone on Tinder then. I finished dinner and wished him well. I did see him again and I continue to treat him like a possible friend, though I don’t know for how long.

Connecting and dating don’t mean anything anymore.

I prefer to spend time with my friends and getting to know more fun and intelligent women. I can connect in non-sexual manner, relax and not made to feel like a sorry object.

What are women over 50 doing instead of dating?

They do fun things that don’t stress them out socially.

I see more and more groups of women over 50 traveling, going on walks, and just spending time together.

Some of my drawing groups have many more women than men.

There are more and more groups that meet to knit, crochet, paint, cook, read, and do wine-tasting.

I have read several articles about women who are co-housing: Moving in together in a house or a community. Such a great way to have company and to stay independent. Some of these places are just for women and others are for women and men.

Are you a woman over 50, do you date? Let’s chat!

I would love to chat with you.

How can women over 50 protect themselves emotionally when they start to date again?

Look at dating as a way to meet a friend.

That will take the pressure off- you can stop thinking of a forever love and see if this is a person you want to be friends with. It will be easier to understand if you have a connection or not. You will look at the person as a “person” and not as a possible boyfriend.

Have fun

Dating can be stressful, so make sure to have fun. Choose a place you want to go, and dress up for yourself. If this is a first date: Make plans to meet a friend afterwards to take the pressure off!

Be defensive.

Think of it as defensive driving. Be safe; avoid sharing personal information, such as your home address or credit cards.

Communicate cleary

Be honest about your likes and dislikes. Be upfront. Pay attention to how the person reacts to your honesty.

Don’t make excuses

If there are things that raise red flags or things you dislike, don’t make excuses. This may not be the type of person you want to be with.

Finances

Never discuss your finances. If the other person discusses their finances, pay close attention and figure out why they are doing so. Are they showing off? Do they want to borrow money?

Sex

Is this just about sex?

Do you want to have sex, or do you want to get to know the person? Ask the same question the other way around.

What should you wear on your first date?

Your clothes should send your message!

Dress conservatively but in a feminine manner if you want a bit of distance and are there to get to know the person.

Wear a sexy dress that will let your date know that all you want is a bit of fun in bed.

Cover up if you want a lot of distance.

Vocabulary used to describe your date’s background research

Freeclimbing: When you research your date but forget to go incognito, or you press the wrong button, and the person gets notified.

Printing: When you leave your fingerprints online during research.

Essential dating vocabulary

Breadcrumbing: leading someone on, but the person has no intention of having a relationship.

Fizzling: showing less interest slowly until it “fizzles” out or fades.

Cloaking: Not coming to the date and then blocking the person

Ghosting: disappearing, the person will block you. Ghosting can happen after a few dates or online.

Banksying: When a person distances from their partner slowly, never talks about it, like the frog in the water, you won’t notice it until one day they leave

Cryptomancer: People, usually men, who date to entice women to invest in their crypto business.

Kittenfishing: This term refers to an online relationship. A person will mislead the other.

Lovebombing: A person will give tons of gifts, lots of attention, but with the intent to manipulate

Benching: like football (soccer), you will be kept around.

My resources for: Women over 50 date? 

Several women over 50 who have requested that their names not be published.

Several women under 50 who have requested that their names not be published.

Articles about dating

More fun dating vocabulary

Ghosting
Psychology Today

NYTimes
Confessions of a ghost

CNN
Ghosting is usually a terrible thing to do. Here is when it’s ok.

USA Today
This new dating trend is leaving people baffled and heartbroken. It’s called ‘Banksying.’

The Every Girl
Banksying Is Now More Common Than Ghosting—And It’s Wrecking Even Solid Relationships

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Updated April 2025