Why girls prefer older boys than younger boys?

Maybe it is a mental thing as I have always liked younger...I can remember when I was at school I had crushes on boys in lower clases...and all through my life I just seem to get on better with younger guys...

I can only see one thing, they need a leader to follow. In the bible, men suppose to be followed by women. I only though that but i don't rely to the age because it don't mean anything for me at all as long as you love each other there will be no problem will occur.

Well, girls do mature earlier than guys, so naturally we would want a man on our level (or close to it). Personally, I cannot date a guy my age or younger. They have to be at least one or two years older. What am I going to do senior year?? Ha ha.

I prefer older guys because I feel like they're more mature (though age doesn't always define maturity, it's just the way that I feel about older guys). On top of that, I feel like older guys are more 'protective' or I feel like there's a sense of security when I'm with them. With younger guys, I feel like I have to be the one to 'protect' and that I have to be the "bigger person", to say the least. For me, I want to be the one that the guys hold, not the other way around (for example). I don't know why I prefer older guys exactly. It's hard to explain but hopefully it made a little sense?