The Other Woman

There are two types of women in the following scenario. Those who have been cheated on by a man and those who are the other woman. I have little respect for both of them if they are aware of the man’s behavior. Continuing a relationship based on lies and deceit is not healthy. I encourage any woman who is involved with a cheating man to move on. She deserves the chance to find a true relationship built on honesty, devotion and mutual values.

I follow Lena Chen at many of the social sites she is a part of. I first learned about her through Twitter and immediately grew fond of her graphically detailed, and honest commentary about her sex life over at her blog Sex & the Ivy. As a Harvard graduate, Chen is educated and well aware of the reputation she has built for herself. What I admire most about her is her openness and her ability to express herself without concern as to who she may offend with her language or the details that she shares.

I was pleased to also discover her at The Frisky, one of my favorite sex blogs. The other day she wrote about her experience as the other woman and how she went about revealing her relationship to the women that were committed to the man involved.

While I don’t always agree with her or relate to many of her experiences, I do think that what she has to say in this particular article serves to empower women everywhere to raise the standards that they expect from the men in their lives.

The Women is a new movie produced by Mick Jagger and Diane English, who also directs the women-only cast. Diane is also the screenwriter of this story of Mary Haines, a woman who is forced to deal with the wide range of emotions experienced from the most ultimate betrayal: that of her cheating husband followed by an even more astounding deception from her close, female friend.

Without a single man in this all-star cast, The Women is bound to be the ultimate chick flick. Betrayal of any kind is a powerful thing and changes a person’s life one way or the other. Having women in my life that I rely on to keep my most intimate secrets and desires, I would have to argue that being betrayed by one of them would kill me in a more devastating way than a cheating man ever could.

Featuring Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annette Bening, Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman and Debra Messing, the gossip and buzz surrounding this dramedy should be enough incentive for women everywhere to be the first ones to see it for themselves.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Damn you, Ashley Madison

According to CEO Noel Biderman, the average man on Ashley Madison is in his late 30s or early 40s and has been married seven years, while the average woman is in her late 20s or early 30s and has only been married two. “The wedding passes, the bubble bursts, and women have fewer options,” he speculates for why female users turn more quickly to cheating. In general, the site tries hard to attract women, who only make up 30% of its user base. That explains its “female-friendly,” made-up name, which Biderman claims was selected to sound like a confidante to women (and perhaps to men like a mistress?). “Women have an easier time here,” he says. “They can sign up and have 20 men on their door no matter their age of appearance. Men are lower-hanging fruit.”

I don’t even know where to begin.

I realize that there are dating sites for people with similar health concerns, religions, or backgrounds and that this one is no exception. Ashley Madison offers a way for people who want to have an extra-marital affair the opportunity to finding a willing participant.

From someone who has recently experienced the heartbreak of realizing her partner of one year is actually married, I do think that having an outlet for this type of behavior is much better than the alternative; having those who seek unsuspecting partners and interrupt lives and relationships with lies and deceit.

With their tagline of: Life is short. Have an affair., Ashley Madison will continue to grow in membership as people turn outside their marriage for answers rather than putting forth effort into enriching their partnership with the person they promised their future to.

Bottom line: Life is short. Being honest with yourself and with your partner(s) is worth it. Trust me.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

The Word on the Street

Over at MomLogic there’s a few articles and discussions that captured my attention in the last few days:

PassionParties have been taking place inside suburban homes for years now but there’s a new surge of these women-only events taking place around the country. According to PassionParties, at least 10,000 parties are held nationally each month to expose women to sex toys that they might otherwise be too embarrassed to shop for on their own! Have you attended a passion party? Have you hosted one?

In another article, a heated debate is getting underway about affairs and whether or not emotional affairs are more harmful than physical. I’m torn on this one and would argue that any affair causes damage to a relationship. What do you think?

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home