The number of women cheating on their husbands has risen by more than 40 per cent in the past 20 years, a new study reveals.
The National Opinion Research Center’s General Social Survey found that one in six wives cheat on their husbands, up from about one in 10 in 1991. The percentage of men cheating on their wives has remained the same at about one in five.
“Men are still more likely to cheat than women,” Yanyi Djamba, director of the AUM Center for Demographic Research said.
“But the gender gap is closing.”
University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz says the rise in infidelity can be attributable to an increase in women’s financial independence. She says social media also plays a role, giving women more freedom to meet men.
and “They can afford the potential consequences of an affair, with higher incomes and more job prospects,” Ms Schwartz says.
“They have more economic independence and may meet a better class of mate.”
Lawyers have also noticed a difference. Alton Abramowitz, president of the Chicago-based American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, says in the last decade there has been an increase in the number of divorce cases sparked by unfaithful wives.
“We always had a few cases with women, but they were much more discreet about it,” he said.
“In the past 10 years or so, though, there’s been an uptick in those cases coming through our office.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
