Is Relationship Abuse Becoming Trendy?

It seems that being mistreated by a partner is somehow gaining popularity these days.

Even if you choose to forgive your partner, he might not even approach you again. Pretending to be in love with someone doesn’t count as cheating—not in some circles anyway. In fact, to some, it’s viewed as alluring.

Take Nikki Glaser, for instance. She’s mentioned that her boyfriend’s escapades with other women are a turn-on for her.

The 41-year-old comedian revealed this during a recent episode of the podcast “Call Her Daddy,” where she discussed her boyfriend, a relatively unknown television producer named Chris Convey, and his off-screen encounters.

“Open relationships often spark debate, but that’s not quite her dynamic. To her, if he sleeps with someone else, she really wouldn’t mind. But it’s not reciprocity. She doesn’t entertain the idea of dating others, even though she’s okay with him having his fun,” she explained.

This seems to reflect a shift toward being more romantically open rather than strictly monogamous. Yet, many women still find themselves sidelined while their partners connect with others. This is often framed as “empowerment,” but isn’t it a somewhat sad way to enable deceit while pretending to advocate for progress?

Glaser also had some thoughts on emotional connections, which she believes crossed a line when discussed by the podcast’s host, Alex Cooper. This notion of “emotional misconduct” seems like a flimsy excuse, justifying questionable behavior.

“If a man is just looking for a casual encounter, I honestly don’t care if my husband does that,” she mentioned. “But when it comes to him doing things like sharing memes or chatting about crosswords with another woman—what’s that about?!”

Glaser, known for shows like “Blind Date” and “F-Boy Island,” confessed she desires a partner that other women find attractive. But if he’s available to everyone, what’s truly special about that? It feels like a sign of a culture that doesn’t value meaningful connections. The idea is that if there are no feelings involved, infidelity isn’t really seen as a big deal.

She’s not alone in navigating these troubled waters. Author and comedian Lindy West, in her latest book “Adult Braces,” shares her own struggles, revealing that she reluctantly accepted her husband’s request for freedom to sleep with other women.

“I was absolutely crushed,” she recalled in an interview. “During our first discussion about it, I was completely emotional. I thought we were on the brink of starting a family and settling down together.”

Yet, she claims to have found happiness now, unexpectedly living with her husband’s girlfriend in the home left to her by her late father.

“I love spending time in the guest room and sneaking into bed with him in the mornings,” she wrote. “They cuddle me and allow me to stay on my phone as long as I like. Life is good! Cheers to that!”

This lifestyle doesn’t just appeal to celebs; it’s also echoed by influencers in the “manosphere,” albeit from a different perspective. Myron Gaines, host of the “Fresh and Fit” podcast, recently talked about his setup, which closely resembles Glaser’s, in a Netflix documentary.

“I do what I want,” he boasted, describing how his partner remains loyal while he enjoys his freedom. “When I’m traveling, she makes sure I’m prepared,” he bragged.

Labeling this as “one-way monogamy,” he’s faced backlash for promoting a distinctly misogynistic view of relationships. Yet when progressive women express similar sentiments, it’s often seen as a form of empowerment. It’s a perplexing double standard.

Our societal acceptance that men stray more frequently than women in relationships brings its own frustrations. Rather than pushing for healthier partnerships, progressive feminists have enabled a regressive response to patriarchal norms.

This has led to a peculiar situation where women give men leeway to chase after multiple partners, all the while enjoying the benefits of a committed relationship.

Perhaps there are indeed rare women who find excitement in being left for another. But countless others have, arguably, been led into a debased perception of empowerment under the guise of modern relationship norms.