A wealthy man’s next status symbol after acquiring personal wealth, social influence, and political clout is often an attractive, well-educated younger woman, known as a “trophy wife.” While some women in these relationships may play a submissive role in public, not all May-December relationships are calculated moves to acquire a trophy wife. The term is generally seen as pejorative and can contribute to the disintegration of a successful marriage.
Once a man has acquired a significant amount of personal wealth, social influence, and/or political clout, the next status symbol on his list is often an attractive, well-educated younger woman who has the necessary social grace to accompany him to public functions. . Because of the significant age difference and the high level of social pedigree required for the job, the term “trophy wife” is often used to describe such a marital arrangement.
A trophy wife often comes from a similar socioeconomic background as their spouse, but tends to play a more submissive role during public appearances. A trophy wife with independent wealth and interests may indeed be a formidable force in private, but her public role is to enhance her husband’s reputation as a manly and successful man in the world. Any man capable of attracting such a beautiful and cultured woman must actually wield significant power and influence.
A number of prominent politicians, including Fred Thompson and Dennis Kucinich, have long been accused of employing trophy wives to enhance their reputations as powerful statesmen. During campaign appearances, a supposed “trophy wife” might spend much of her time adoringly gazing at her significantly older husband or praising her youth or virility during informal appearances. In reality, many women who are married to successful older men are fully aware of their public perceptions and scrupulously avoid situations where they might be portrayed as nothing more than “candy” to their husbands.
The term “trophy wife” is generally seen as a pejorative for many women who choose to marry older men in positions of power. Indeed, misuse of the term by the media or the public can contribute to the disintegration of an otherwise successful marriage. Relationships with significant age differences can be difficult to maintain in general, and the extra control of a younger wife’s motivations or personal agenda can make matters even worse. When legendary performer Paul McCartney, for example, married a much younger woman named Heather Mills, many speculated that her role in the marriage was no more than eye candy or the quintessential trophy wife of an aging musician.
There are some circumstances where the term trophy wife can fit the bill perfectly, but not every May-December relationship between an older man and younger woman is necessarily a calculated move to acquire a trophy wife. There are a number of reasons why a younger woman might prefer the company of an older man, regardless of her wealth or social standing. A true “trophy wife” may very well understand the role to be expected in her husband’s life and is content to play her part in exchange for a more lavish personal lifestyle.
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