How Does Infidelity Affect Masculinity?

For a man confronted with the discovery of a cheating wife, it would be very difficult not to entertain doubts about his masculinity. One way or the other, a cheating wife represents the failure of the husband to completely satisfy his partner. Just like a cheated wife who feels violated, a cheated husband may feel that his masculinity has been despised and disrespected.

Men are especially sensitive about the issue of being on the receiving end of acts of marital cheating. Blame this on the traditional presumption that men do the cheating and not the other way around. Aside from the having to contend with the personal grief of being cheated on, a man often times has to deal with keeping up an act that he is able to handle it well because that is something expected from a real man.

Have I got news for everyone! Real men are real human beings. They feel pain and they react to pain just like everyone else, regardless of gender. Social practices however, dictate a certain reactionary behavior from the male specie which is that of strength and courage in the face of adversity.

The pressure of trying to keep up a calm front and not being able to access the needed emotional support from friends and family have led many men into the path of clinical depression. Not a few have had to contend with temporary sexual impotence during the most difficult times after the discovery of a wife's infidelity because of the inability to separate the cheating act from their sexual capability as a man. Infidelity is always a personal attack on the faithful spouse, regardless of the reason behind it.