A woman favors an older man because she may lack confidence or dominance. She feels safe with the older man because he can protect her from physical danger. Marriages benefit males more than women when it comes to living a long life. Men frequently seek a lady who is more ambitious, confident, and mature. A husband would prefer an older wife because they believe she will take care of them. Women need protection from men's violence, especially if they are young and vulnerable. An older man is less likely to abuse his power over her. Also, he is more likely to have learned how to control himself by then. Women want to marry up -- meaning they want to marry men who are a few years older than themselves. This gives them time to grow into the marriage while still looking successful enough to attract a new partner. The oldest old age group in most countries is made up of women. This is because women live longer than men. In America, Europe, and Australia, women account for almost all people who live beyond 100 years old. The number of male centenarians is much smaller. Women's lives are also expected to end sooner than men's due to health problems. For this reason, most marriages include one partner who is older than the other. Women need someone who can protect them from harm. If an older man shows him to be capable of controlling his temper and staying out of trouble, then she will trust him not to hurt her.