Statistics on Women Who Cheat
Cheating. It happens. You can hardly check out your groceries without being assaulted by tabloid headlines about high profile celebs stepping out. However, the stereotypical cheater that usually springs to mind is male—politicians, athletes, actors—we almost expect these guys to fail at staying faithful. But what about women? Affairs may be just as much an issue for the ladies, according to new research. Statistics on women who cheat show that as many as one in five married women has indulged in infidelity.
Why Do Women Have Affairs?
There has been a huge surge of women seeking affairs—many of them middle-aged, married and mothers. This surge is partly due to the fact that our society is much more open about sex than ever before. The media is overflowing with images of glamorous women flaunting their sexual independence. However, most women aren't getting involved outside of their marriage because of the movie they watched over the weekend. Many other complex factors play into women affairs.
Women who admit to cheating often chalk it up to a need for emotional fulfillment. They may be bored or dissatisfied with their marriage. It's so easy for a marriage to get stale when life is filled with jobs, kids, school, carpools and budgets. A wife may feel that her husband spends too much time at work and doesn't have enough time for her. Or she may resent feeling like she is only there to prepare meals and fold laundry. Many married women complain that they miss the romance and flirting that was part of courtship but has waned after marriage, mortgage and kids. Some women who find themselves involved in casual affairs may be subconsciously seeking affirmation of their worth and sexiness. An affair may be an attempt to assuage a poor self image and renew that feeling of being sexy and desirable. Often, there are many complex reasons behind women affairs, and a woman might be hard-pressed to explain exactly what she was thinking.
And while there are many women starting affairs intentionally, cheating can also blossom from a seemingly innocent friendship at work or online. Even women who are happily married find themselves throwing a second glance at a good-looking guy. While occasional sexual fantasies are normal, if not kept in check, they can quickly grow from a harmless daydream into a relationship-ruining nightmare. Most experts agree that if your thoughts on infidelity are moving from mere curiosity into plans to make it happen, you need to step back and think hard about what's driving that desire for a dalliance. Usually that lust you're feeling is masking problems in your marriage. Women wanting affairs don't need to find a new partner; they need to fix things with the partner they already have.
Of course, each woman's heart and circumstances are different. Not every marriage is meant to last, and there are legitimate reasons for ending one relationship and beginning another. If you find yourself in such a situation, proceed with caution. Studies show that however passionately they began, affairs don't usually last, and we can all agree that ending a relationship because of infidelity is hard on everyone involved.
