By Christiénne Miller

Is it me, or does it seem as though marital fidelity is becoming an endangered species?

Trust me, I know that extra-marital affairs have been around since the invention of the marriage contract, but I’m just amazed at how many people get married, and then step out on them these days.

Take the situation this post is based on. Here we have Charles Phillips, a co-president at Oracle, prominent business man, and one of the individuals serving on President Obama’s economic recovery advisory board. For 8 1/2 years, he had a full-blown (seemingly public) relationship with YaVaughnie Wilkins — who is reported to have been under the impression that Phillips was divorced in 2003. It seems to me that their “public” relationship isn’t half as public as their break up has been. I find it sad, for all parties involved — Phillips has reconciled with his wife, I believe.

Does news like this make you wonder if the institution, confines, and ideals of marriage need to evolve into something else, maybe something more polyamorous? Or, do you think our approach to monogamy in marriage is where the problem exists?

According to author Peggy Vaughan, this may just be the case. In her books, especially The Monogamy Myth, she strives to expose our societal misunderstandings of monogamy, and provide support for the choice of monogamy.

Though neither my husband nor I have had an affair, I’m thinking I may pick up a copy of The Monogamy Myth. If anything, perhaps it will clear my perception of monogamy and help me go deeper into why I’ve made it my personal choice — which can only be a good think, don’t you agree?

comments (0)

share