Senior Carolyn Keller and junior Eric Wiegand bonded through a shared love of performing arts and music. From there, their relationship blossomed and now, they do all of the things typical couples do: hold hands while walking through the hallways, spend copious amounts of time with each other on the weekends and text each other often.

While they might seem like the epitome of an ideal high school couple to some, others may only notice the distinguishing fact that a female senior is dating a male junior. However, they both said that this circumstance does not deter either of them from dating.

Keller said, “I always forget that I’m older. I don’t really notice the difference. There’s not that much different other than (the fact that) he’s a junior taking AP Literature and I’m a senior taking W131. I really don’t think about age that much.”

Keller and Wiegand’s relationship is one of many that have contributed to a growing trend in high school relationships where the female is older than the male. In May 2012, The New York Times published an editorial titled “For Would-Be Cougars, the Prom Is a Good Start” which discussed how an increasing number of girls are attending prom with males in lower grade levels and even have a preference for dating younger boys.

Both Keller and Wiegand said they have become aware of the recent increase in the number of couples like them at this school.

Keller said, “Actually, a lot of my friends also are dating in lower grades, too. I’ve noticed the trend in these types of relationships.”

Victoria Dalton, a clinical psychologist for Indiana Health Group who specializes in adolescents, said she, too, has noticed this shift in high school relationships, especially in the past few years. She said she attributes this to the loosening of societal pressures.

“I have seen a number of changes within the high school dating context, and I suspect this is due in part to the relaxing or accepting of cultural stances on this topic. It does not appear that most high school students are as encumbered by societal rules such as dating your age or older for girls,” Dalton said. “There are also more relaxed rules regarding friendships with younger students. So it only seems to follow that familiarity and exposure would build attraction and connectivity.”

However, both Keller and Wiegand said they disagreed with Dalton, saying that cultural views did not affect their relationship.

Wiegand said, “I don’t really feel that pressure. I know that (relationships like ours are) uncommon, but we’re just at a point where we were indifferent about any social pressures.

On the other hand, Keller and Wiegand concurred with Dalton that exposure to people of different grade levels in classes has contributed to the growth in these types of relationships.

“Age isn’t becoming such a big deal. Especially with performing arts, I’m having classes with people outside my grade, and I don’t really notice the age difference. It’s not taken into account as much,” Keller said.

Keller also said that she thinks these relationships are becoming more common as women are questioning traditional gender roles.

“It’s been a tradition and set back from way back when. Those male and female roles are still in place today, but it’s lessened throughout the years,” Keller said. “People are just not caring as much, going beyond the boundaries of male and female roles. People are thinking beyond.”

According to Dalton, a disadvantage is the concerns from parents on both sides of the relationship, since this trend may be different from their experience of high school dating, But Dalton said they do

not need to worry, as she sees these relationships as playful.

“In my experience most of these relationships appear lighter in nature. I can’t speak to the average duration of these relationships, but the couples with this composition tend to have more fun and less drama,” Dalton said.

Wiegand also said that he sees these concerns as unwarranted, and people should keep an open mind about these relationships.

“Age difference is an exaggerated problem and that should be no problem,” Wiegand said. “If (the couple’s) personalities match, that’s that. It doesn’t have anything to do with age and it’s just a fact.”

Despite remaining negative opinions of these relationships, Dalton said that she does not see this dating trend as a temporary fad.

Dalton said, “This is here to stay. You cannot unring this bell. Once it has become acceptable, things rarely shift back. It might not stay as ‘’en vogue’’ as it is becoming, but I don’t believe it will ever go back to being unacceptable.”