Recent surveys by British manufacturer (world’s leading stairlift company) Stannah reveal that women are grumpier than men when they reach old age. The revelation changes the traditional perspective of men becoming more temperamental with age. Apparently, both the sexes are at their happiest during the middle age but the fairer sex become crankier as they get older. The main reason being that for men, overall happiness is heavily linked to the stability of family and finances. Men in their 20s are more dissatisfied than young women with their financial situations, not because they are worse off, but because they crave for more. It is only after their 50s that men come closer to fulfilling their aspirations, and are more satisfied with their family lives and finances. Men feel happy with the respect they get from the society at large in their old age and hence are keen to continue contributing positively to society. There is one more reason too. Men are able to come to terms with the way they look after a certain age and are comfortable in their own skins. On the other hand, women are more devastated with the wrinkles and dullness. Well-known psychologist Mini Rao reacts, “After a certain age, the contribution of a woman financially comes down and they are forced to take a back seat. Men definitely are more contented because they do not undergo the physical changes women need to deal with which is a huge factor. Also, the dependency of men doesn’t change as much as a woman. Men are inherently physically strong and are more assured of themselves at any age.”
