What is a cougar?
Initially when referring to a cougar, a large wild cat often called a "puma" or a "panther" would come to mind. Generally cougars look like a smaller version of a female lion.
The term 'cougar' seems to be in popular use in recent days, and not to refer to the animal. The connotation is of a wily feline going after an unsuspecting toothsome rabbit.
So what or who is a cougar? Wikipedia refers to a 'cougar' as a woman who seeks to have sexual relations with a considerably younger man. The Urbandictionary.com has its own definition of the term.
One website argues that if the women feel positive about their body and looks then there is no harm in pursuing the men who like what they see. Most of these women follow a strict exercise regime to maintain a toned and well shaped body while also maintaining their hair and make-up. Money is never a likely issue since this is one of the main ways they pursue their younger 'preys'. It has also been know of younger men who deliberately set out to find women who fit the description of 'cougars' to maintain a high end lifestyle.
The ABC News reported that there is a difference of about eight years in the age of the younger men these women seek to pursue while the New York Times stated that the women termed as 'cougars' over the age of 40 aggressively seek sexual relationships with men in their twenties or thirties. There is no set age or age difference but the term describes women with male partners much younger than themselves.
The real origin of the term to refer to women is debatable but seems to have one of two plausible source; a Canadian dating website, Cougardate.com is said to be one of the sources, the other is a book written in 2001 by Valerie Gibson, Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men.
Movies and television has played a great part in making the term popular, Cougar Club in 2007 was based on the subject. Later in 2009 a reality series called The Cougar was aired, 2009 also saw the sitcom Cougar Town which explored the difficulties and stigma attached to women called 'cougar'.
It is well known that the concept is older than the term throughout the world. The 2001 movie, And Your Mother Too, ("Y tu mamá también"), is a Mexican film about two teenagers and an attractive older woman on a road trip, sex is one thing she adds to their learning. Another Swedish based film in 1995, All Things Fair, ("Lust och fägring stor"), is about a 37 year old teacher who capitalizes on the youth and innocence of her 15 year old student to take her away from the miseries of her drunken and miserable husband. In 1967, The Graduate explores the relationship between a young college graduate and a senior Mrs. Robinson.
