Women are Closing the ‘Infidelity Gap.' What Gap Will We Close Next?
LatestGather around, fellow feminists, because I have exciting news: we’ve done it at long last! We’ve begun to close that infamous gap between men and women — you know the one — that yawning gulf of inequality that insidiously reinforces patriarchy. You know what I’m talking about, ladies. That’s right, we’re finally closing in on men in terms of how many of us cheat on our spouses. Wait, what do you mean, the “pay gap”? Get out of here, Susan B. Anthony’s ghost; we do not have time for you.
Lots of news outlets are reporting that women are beginning to close the “infidelity gap,” according to a recent survey. Woohoo! We enterprising feminists have made big gains: the percentage of women who admit to having affairs is up 40 percent in 20 years — it’s now at 14.7 percent. The percentage of men who admit to having affairs, on the other hand, has remained stagnant at around 21 percent this entire time. There are manifold explanations for the rise in cheating: some say it likely has to do with a decline in the prohibitions around female desire; others argue that working women now have the economic power to cheat without fearing financial ruin.