NationStates Jolt Archive

Just curious - am I the only one who sees a double standard in the perception of when men or women cheat on their partners?

It seems (and yes, this is a generalisation, but bear with me) that when men cheat, it is simply becuase they have no moral fibre and "think with their genitals", yet when a woman cheats it seems to be assumed that she only cheats because her male partner isn't showing her enough or the right type of attention.

It's almost like women have a universal "get out of jail free" card - "I only cheated because he neglects me"...

In a simialr vein, there seems to be a common perception that men are MUCH more likely to cheat on their partners than women, yet I have to say that at least in my own circle of friends, relatives and acquaintences it is much more like 50/50, possibly even slightly higher for the females.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

(For the record, I am male and have never cheated on any of my partners - I never felt the need or the urge to).

Well, I'm a guy as well and I don't take 2nd glance at other women these days but my girl is almost scared she may be the one to let things get out of hand (I know her well enough though, just not her style).

So I guess I can say in my personal experience, the stereotype seems to have been blown out of the water.

Huh...I never really thought about it that way...

Darn superiority of males throughout history...we're paying for it in spades now. :mad:

See, I've never heard of that before. The men are cheating bastards, and the women are cheating sluts. Course that's my opinion.

I agree completely...especially about the perception that men cheat more.

Although in my own social circle, the instances of cheating run closer to about 70/30, with women representing the larger number.

Meh...it's different no matter where you go, I suspect.

This is not the greatest example of modern sexism, but it does have a certain validity in some circles. Certainly this is the stereotype that mass media pushes on us, but I think that it has been regected by most people. There seems to be the idea that any mistreatment can be fixed by an equal and opposite mistreatment. If minority groups or women have historically had a tough time getting an equal oppertunity; don't give them equal oppertunity, turn the tables on those white male bastards.

This is the modern definition of equality. I wish it could be applied to the native americans or perhaps the Jews of Europe. You massacre us, we massacre you back. Sounds like a just system to me. Think about the war on terror. The only way to achieve peace is through war, not so different from the WAR is PEACE motto of the totalitarian regieme of Orwell's 1984.

Doublethink.
It's crazy.

See, I've never heard of that before. The men are cheating bastards, and the women are cheating sluts. Course that's my opinion.
Hear, hear!


It seems (and yes, this is a generalisation, but bear with me) that when men cheat, it is simply becuase they have no moral fibre and "think with their genitals", yet when a woman cheats it seems to be assumed that she only cheats because her male partner isn't showing her enough or the right type of attention.

It's almost like women have a universal "get out of jail free" card - "I only cheated because he neglects me"...
It feels like it because you're male. I'm female and hear the same excuse from men. Both cheat for the same reasons, both use the same excuses.

This is not the greatest example of modern sexism, but it does have a certain validity in some circles. Certainly this is the stereotype that mass media pushes on us, but I think that it has been regected by most people. There seems to be the idea that any mistreatment can be fixed by an equal and opposite mistreatment. If minority groups or women have historically had a tough time getting an equal oppertunity; don't give them equal oppertunity, turn the tables on those white male bastards.

This is the modern definition of equality. I wish it could be applied to the native americans or perhaps the Jews of Europe. You massacre us, we massacre you back. Sounds like a just system to me. Think about the war on terror. The only way to achieve peace is through war, not so different from the WAR is PEACE motto of the totalitarian regieme of Orwell's 1984.

Doublethink.
It's crazy.
I really don't believe that women cheat because they want to pay back to men.

I know what you're talking about and I can see it in everyday life but not here. OK, there may be some loonie bitches who bear a grudge against all mankind (menkind) but in general women cheat for the same reasons men cheat.