Men don’t date women over 30 because they are “damaged goods”, according to one Lunchtime Live listener. 

Among the many emails and texts that come into the show every day, one stood out to presenter Andrea Gilligan this morning.

The mail was from a listeners named Jerry who said he was inspired to get in touch by the show’s recent focus on the difficulties of dating for women.

He said the ‘hard truth’ is that “men don't want to date women over 30” and insisted there is “scientific evidence” backing up his claims.

“Men are very picky on age preferences because men of nearly all ages prefer women in their early 20s,” he said. 

“Women are valued for their beauty, which goes downhill rapidly after age 25, so a man looking for children will look to date women five plus years younger than 30. 

He said women above the age 30 are “damaged goods” and "hitting the wall".

"A woman aged 30 has a lower fertility because by the time she turns 30, she has lost 90% of her egg reserve and her fertility is already in decline," he said.

“I always tell my niece not to waste the precious years of her early 20s as so many modern women do.

"Sadly, most modern women nowadays end up marrying the 'Chad' type of guy while overlooking the nice guys or end up wasting their 20s, only to find that no man wants them after 30."

'You see celebrities like Leo DiCaprio'

Jerry's blunt email had both men and women lighting up the phonelines.

Stephanie called in to say Jerry must have “severely hurt by someone over 30” to write this email. 

“I do believe there are people in this world with that mindset,” she said. "However, I do not find that to be the mindset of the majority of people with sense and education and common decency.” 

She said that many men do seem to end up dating younger women, even if they’re not as direct about it as Jerry. 

“You see celebrities like Leo DiCaprio who’s only dated women under 25 and he’s well into 50s,” she said. 

“I also believe there are men dating women older than them – it's preference. 

But to put it in an email and say, ‘all men’ and ‘all women’... that was like being hit by a bus.”

Woman waiting at a coffee table. Image: Antonio Guillem Fernández / Alamy Stock Photo

Aideen told the show some men do end up dating younger women – but said she believes that is because women prefer older men.

“Men are fools, unfortunately, and they're much more immature than us women,” she said. 

“When we’re looking for a fella, we need someone who’s older so they're on the same maturity level. 

“I'm with a fella who is older and I don’t think there's anything wrong with that – but I don’t think he was thinking he needs someone to have kids with.”
 

'The Handmaid's Tale'

John told the show the email reminded him of The Handmaid’s Tale. 

“I actually started laughing when I heard this,” he said. 

“I couldn’t understand how people could do something like that to women in general. 

“I have a son nearly 30 years of age, and he has the height of respect for his partner and all women.” 

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