Selected 2010 Publications

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Older Women - Younger Men Relationships: The Social Phenomenon of 'Cougars'. A Research Note

Zoe Lawton and Paul Callister, January 2010
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: Couples where the woman is significantly older than her male partner currently have a high prominence in national and international media and in popular culture. The women in such arrangements have attracted a colloquial label, 'cougar'.

This arrangement represents a break from the past when generally the male was the older partner. Our initial analysis of census data suggests that the extent of the older woman - younger male couple is exaggerated by the media. Nevertheless, the data indicate it is an important group and its size does seem to have been growing since the 1980s, at least for those living together in the same households.

Like other researchers we also suspect that the number of couples where the woman is older who form long-term relationships is considerably smaller than the number of such couples who have had short-term relationships.

Our brief canvassing of theories of partner choice suggests there are social and economic reasons for further growth of this type of partnering arrangement. If there is further significant growth, it is likely the somewhat negative predatory term 'cougar' will disappear or at least change its current connotations.

Changes in paid work for mid-life couples between 1981 and 2006: A research note

Paul Callister, Martin von Randow, David Rea and Gerard Cotterell, January 2010
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: Major changes in paid work and living arrangements have taken place for mid-life men and women in New Zealand since the early 1980s. When the variables are looked at independently, we find fewer such men and women living as couples, fewer men and more women in paid work, and fewer men and women living with dependent children.

When these variables are brought together we see an increasing diversity of living arrangements (including whether a person lives with children) and work arrangements. This includes some growth in the proportion of women and men who are not employed, not partnered, and not living with children. When only those living in couples are considered we also see an increasing diversity of work arrangements.

This diversity has emerged over periods of economic decline and economic growth. However, some of this diversity could also be characterised as polarisation with growth in both work-rich and work-poor couples. Although a strong labour market to 2006 substantially reduced the proportion of work-poor couples, they were not back to the proportions seen in 1981 or 1986.

This lends some support to the Gregg and Wadsworth (1994) hypothesis that recessions in recent decades increase the number of work-poor households, but in times of strong economic growth do not reduce the number of work-poor households to the same extent. In addition, within the work-poor couples, a larger proportion has both partners not in the labour force, indicating perhaps a higher level of disconnect from the labour market than seen in the past.

Latest Papers | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | Earlier Papers