Magazine and television channels have been swarmed with all the latest hype surrounding Tiger Woods and his long list of uncovered mistresses. With so much media attention focusing on the subject, it’s no wonder the issue of cheating has been a hot topic lately.

In a 2007 study by the University of Villanova and Rutgers University, researchers looked to investigate differences between the sexes in prevalence and reasons for cheating.

Researchers found that while men were more likely to engage in cheating, 67 percent of both men and women reported that being attracted to someone outside of the relationship was their main reason for cheating.

According to Dan Hauben, a junior creative writing and urban planning double major, flirting while you’re in a relationship is a clear indicator that it may be time to move on.

“Flirting with others is usually a sign that you’re not comfortable or totally happy with your relationship,” Hauben said.

But when you find yourself on the other side of the situation — a single person involved with someone already in a relationship — who is really at fault?

Being the other woman

Leigh Ann Wheeler, a Binghamton University history professor who specializes in gender studies, said that, in many cases, women tend to direct their anger against other females rather than the man who broke his vows.

“This is because women tend to hold each other more accountable for patrolling the boundaries of their relationship. Many people assume that men are going to cheat if they can, and women are responsible to keep that from happening,” Wheeler explained.

According to Wheeler, people still believe the stereotype that men have a harder time controlling themselves, and are more likely to cheat than women as a result. Many men believe that they have stronger sex drives than women, and students of both genders in Wheeler’s classes have agreed with this statement.

From secret phone calls to hidden texts, one would assume that getting involved with someone single may have been an easier task. This realization may cause people to wonder the motives and benefits to becoming the “other woman.”

“Some women may think that a certain person is the man they really want, even if he’s already in a relationship,” Wheeler explained.

According to Wheeler, women may be under the impression that they can win the man in question, creating a sort of competition.

“In these types of cases, the woman who was cheated on is viewed as a saint and that she experienced something she didn’t deserve. The other women may be seen as evil temptresses,” Wheeler said.

Christie Sauer, a sophomore psychology major, has been in a relationship for about a year and feels that there is never one person to blame.

“I feel that if I cheated, or was cheated on, it would be unacceptable and both people involved would be at fault. It takes two to tango,” Sauer said.

Celeb-reality

In high-profile cases, women may find this “game” to be exciting, especially while dealing with rich and famous athletes such as Tiger Woods. The women could also be individuals who would have gained no attention from these celebrities in any way other than sex. The situation could be viewed as a one-way ticket to power, fame and money.

This type of attention, on the other hand, may not be the kind they might have hoped for. The revealed mistresses have damaged their reputation, as the population is more likely to look down upon them for their exposed actions.

Yet people’s opinions vary, because everyone holds a different mindset on the matter. Some could compare the mistresses’ actions to winning a prize. The aspect of sleeping with a celebrity could possibly cause these women to become more alluring, Wheeler explained.

This aspect could also be the main reason the media tends to watch the men who slip up. Along with famous athletes, multiple politicians were also caught in the act of infidelity. These include Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and New York governors Eliot Spitzer and his successor, David Paterson.

When people are constantly in the public eye, there is a strong connection between the actions of both their public and private lives. This serves as the main reason affairs are especially risky in the celebrity world. Both the cheater and his mistress are susceptible to the judgment of millions.

“People are concerned that a professional athlete who cheats on a romantic partner will serve as a poor role model for admiring young people,” Wheeler explained. “People assume that if you’re going to lie to your wife, you’re going to lie to the American people as well.”