What has Joan Collins, Madonna and the wife of Karl Marx in common?

All three ladies married spouses younger than themselves.

In this day and age, such occasions are numerous enough not to cause undue concern. However, in June 19th 1843, when Karl Marx, a nobody, married Jenny von Westphalen, daughter of a German baron, it was something. Indeed, for several years the two kept their engagement a secret, both realising, that this was not a marriage which would find approval from either family.

An older woman marrying a younger man always causes speculation. What does he see in her? What does she see in him? In the case of Karl Marx, one would be inclined to say, that part of his choice lay in the fact that he was a very selfish man. In this marriage it was less about what he could do for his his wife, and more what his wife could do for him.

While he was busy contemplating the possibily of a world revolution, his wife and six children lived in extreme poverty, supported by the charity of friends.

In the latter part of their married life, while Karl spent his time in the Reading Rooms of the British Museum, Jenny was busy trekking from their two rented rooms in Chelsea, to the pawn broker and back again. Her visits, notwithstanding, the Marx family were ejected from their two rooms for not paying their rent, and moved to cheaper accomodation in Soho. By this time Jenny had got rid of whatever cutlery worth selling could be sold, while the rooms were pretty well innocent of any piece of furniture.

According to British statistics, older women marrying younger man has now risen to more than 25% of all couples.

Some reasons given for the trend is that the older woman, who is still looking forward to having a family, wants a healthy father for her children. Men, on the other hand, when choosing an older woman, are hoping for emotionally and economically independent woman. Most importantly, they are looking for a woman who is old enough to realise that if they want to be happy, it is their responsibility and not that of the husband.

Vlady Peters

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant performing weddings, naming, renenewal of vows and commitment ceremonies both for Australian citizens and for overseas couples visiting friends and relatives in Australia.

She is the author of two traditionally published books, "The Complete Book of Australian Weddings" and "The Small Organisation Handbbook" and is in the process of releasing two ebooks dealing with weddings and honeymoons.

Her major interest is research into customs and traditions of weddings.

By going back to the roots of customs, she believes couples can more clearly differentiate between what is essential in a wedding ceremony, and what is merely a personal preference.

This allows them to choose a ceremony reflecting their own situation within the framework of legal requirements.

Vlady has a bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Government, and has studied the writing of novels and romances. She has written children picture books as well as novels.

She is a member of Queesland Civil Marriage Celebrants - the largest Civil Marriage Celebrants Association in Australia - as well as member of Celebrants' Training Association.

She is also a member of Australian Authors, as well as Romance Writers Association where for a number of years she was the Convenor of the prestigious Emma Darcy Award - Australia's leading Lady of Romance.