Introduction: Why Do We Care if Other People Cheat?
1. Who are these “Bad Girls” Anyway? (And Where Did You Find
Them?)
2. A Large Penis is Always Welcome
3. You’re not the Boss of Me
4. A Gift You Give Yourself, But Nothing Comes for Free
5. Sometimes You Just Need a Subcontractor
Conclusion: The Things You Learn from Bad Girls: Conclusions and
Implications Resulting from this Inquiry on Women and Outside
Partnerships
Alicia Walker is assistant professor of sociology at Missouri State University.
In certain marriages, behind smiling family photographs, are
everyday women who carry dangerous and delectable secrets. In this
revealing new book, they tell their stories. Unwilling to divorce,
but frustrated by sexual boredom and the tedium of modern middle
class life, their affairs serve as a release valve for an otherwise
stultifying reality. Full of contradictions, Walker’s interviewees
offer a window onto the ‘cheating wife,’ one that challenges our
assumptions about women, power, morality, and monogamy itself.
*Lisa Wade, Occidental College*
This fascinating and well written book develops a sociology of
infidelity, bringing insight into marriage, monogamy,
relationships, and internet dating that will be useful for
researchers examining relationships, professors teaching classes
about the family, sexuality, and gender, and counselors of patients
who are involved with infidelity. I was intrigued by the details of
how women who cheat think about their actions, form and negotiate
the details of their affairs, and the benefits and drawbacks they
get from those affairs. The distinct social norms around affairs
reveal what we often take for granted in other relationships. Many
of my assumptions about affairs were overturned, and it was a fun
read too!
*Arielle Kuperberg, The University of North Carolina at
Greensboro*
The Secret Life of the Cheating Wife challenges gendered
stereotypes and expectations of what and how women desire. Using
compelling data, Walker demonstrates both diversity and commonality
among unfaithful women and, in a truly sociological way, makes
sense of the complexity of this stigmatized identity. A great read
for anyone interested in sexualities in the digital age.
*Beth Montemurro, Penn State University, Abington*
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