I thought the following from from Our Posthuman Future by Francis Fukuyama was very interesting:
"One writer states: 'One of the factors inhibiting sexuality with ageing is undoubtedly the brain-washing that all of us experience which says that the older person is less sexually attractive.' Would that sexuality were only a matter of brainwashing! Unfortunately, there are good Darwinian reasons that sexual attractiveness is linked to youth, particularly in women. Evolution has created sexual desire for the purpose of fostering reproduction, and there are few selective pressures for humans to develop sexual attraction to partners past their prime reproductive years."
I myself have wondered why (and actually posited the same reason) about this sort of thing.
So, what do you middle age folks think about that? Or any of you.
Pat
P. S. Happy Darwin Day for any atheists/evolutionists out there! http://www.darwinday.org/
Edited by - patio34 on 12 February 2003 15:22:21