EUR This N That | Urban Black News Blog

*Sometimes you just wonder where a good, independent woman could go wrong. Well, its when she gets a man who still decides to cheat on her even when she’s bringing home the bacon. A study conducted by Cornell University gave the rundown as to why men cheat on women who make more money than them.

Here is what the Telegraph (London) reports:
Why do lower-earning men cheat more? (my answer: because their women are at work while they’re sitting their behind on the couch somewhere waiting for her to come home) It’s most likely an “attempt to compensate for feelings of inadequacy” due to the loss of the traditionally male “breadwinner” status, says study author Christin Munch. As evidence, Munch points to an especially high rate of infidelity among Latino men whose wives or live-in girlfriends earn more. She speculates that the effect is pronounced in this demographic group because being the breadwinner is “one of the defining features of Hispanic masculinity.”

Who else is more likely to cheat?
Men who earn significantly more than their partner. Munch speculates that this group tends to have higher-powered professions that create more opportunity, and the financial resources to cover up their actions. Ironically enough, women who earn more than their husbands are also more prone to adultery. (I agree)

And who is the least likely?
Women who earn less than their partners.  (Have you watched an episode of “Desperate Housewives!”) “They may make a calculated decision that cheating just isn’t worth it,” says Munch. “If they get caught, their livelihood is at risk.” The key to a faithful relationship, according to the study, is for a woman to earn 25 percent less than her husband or partner.

How prevalent is cheating, in general?
According to Munsch’s study, about 7 percent of men cheat and 3 percent of women. (Oh please!) But don’t forget, says Judy McGuire at Seattle Weekly “cheating is one of those vices like drinking, drugging and eating Big Macs, that people tend to under-report.” I’m married to a househusband. Should I be worried? Perhaps. But factors like age, education level, income, and religious attendance also play a major role, notes Tracy Clark-Flory at Salon – so don’t automatically assume there’s a problem. “It’s just not too easy to put your finger on what makes a person cheat.”