Why are young women attracted to older men Dad or Shag: The Scientific Reason Youre Attracted To Older MenOver the course of your twenties, youll almost definitely have been told you need an older man at some point by a well-meaning friend or relative unless, of course, youre already dating one. The mythologising of older men is at once frustrating and intriguing in equal measure: theyre often referred to as silver foxes and dad or shags.