So...Who's Really Doing the Cheating?

Let’s face it — relationships are hard. Between remembering anniversaries, tolerating your partner’s weird sleep habits, and pretending to care about their fantasy football team or new pair of shoes, it’s a miracle anyone stays faithful. And yet, some don’t. That’s where things get juicy.

According to actual science (and not just wine fueled conversations with your girlfriends), men are more likely than women to cheat. So, let’s take a look at those statistics and see if you and your girlfriends are correct about whether men or women cheat the most.

The General Social Survey initiated in 1972 is a sociological survey that monitors societal change. Aggregated data up to 2022 on the topic of cheating reported that about 20% of married men admit to cheating. Meanwhile, only 13 % of married women confess to the same. Now perhaps men are just more forthcoming on this topic than women but nonetheless, we have to take them on their word. That  7% difference may not sound like much, but in the world of  suspicious text messages, it’s enough to launch a thousand passive-aggressive posts on TikTok.

However, this statistic is not universally applicable to all ages. Gen Z. women are actually more likely to cheat than men — 11% vs. 10%. Maybe these women are trying to  even out the score and are demanding payback for centuries of double standards.

Then things get weirder as people age. Men in their 70s report the highest rate of infidelity at 26%. At this point, you’re probably not even mad — just impressed that although studies have proven that men’s sexual drive decreases with age, men still want to be in the game. Meanwhile, women peak in their 60s, with 16% admitting to cheating. Apparently, retirement isn’t just for gardening anymore.

Of course, cheating is never funny when it happens in your life. Everyone thinks they’re the exception. “I would never cheat,” we say, while texting our work spouse every time our partner forgets to do the dishes. But wait a minute, that’s not cheating-right? Or is it?

Ah, the quandary surrounding  emotional cheating — the spiritual loophole people use to feel slightly less guilty about their sketchy behavior. You know the type: “I didn’t  kiss my old boyfriend but we did talk for three hours over a cup of coffee and reminisce over old times.” Yes, Jennifer. That still counts.

In the end, the moral of the story is clear: people are messy. Whether it’s men in midlife crises, women discovering their power in their 20s, or grandpas swiping right on “silver fox” dating apps, cheating transcends age, gender, and logic. Sometimes people are looking for affirmation that they’re still desirable, or other times it’s just the thrill of the chase. But if you’re in a healthy relationship built on trust, respect, and mutually tolerated snoring — you’re already winning.

And if you’re not? Just remember statistically, if you flip the data in the General Social Survey, you can interpret the data to mean 80% of married men and 87% of married women don’t cheat. That is, if the survey respondents are actually telling the truth. Maybe you’ll get lucky.