Sex+Scandals

Sarah Janousek ** Sex Scandals **

**Definition** A scandal, in general, is when a person in the public eye is accused of wrongdoing. When a scandal involves sex, this usually includes sexual acts that are embarrassing, illegal, or morally incorrect. Sex scandals may be false accusations, based on the truth, or a combination of the both. **Sex Scandals and Politicians** Sex scandals have been around for decades. Published in //The Washington Post//, Yourish (2011) gives a brief overview of the political sex scandals over the past four decades. These particular scandals have ranged from sexual relations with female co-workers, committing an affair on their wives, business with prostitution, sexual harassment, and extramarital affairs. Perhaps one of the most scandalous of the bunch was in regards to the President at the time, Bill Clinton. Gibbs (1998) reflects on the situation; White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, was recorded speaking in depth about her affairs with Clinton. While Hillary Clinton was out of town, Lewinsky gave graphic details of sexual performances she and Clinton engaged in, specifically oral sex. Clinton was impeached, but was eventually acquitted of all charges. Another famous scandal was with New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer. In 2008, The New York Times broke the story of Spitzer’s relations with a $1,000-an-hour call girl. This scandal forced Spitzer to resign just days after the story broke. **Sex Scandals and Hollywood** Sex scandals involving celebrities are constantly in the news. Block (2010) reflects back on the some of the most well known scandals in Hollywood, and cheating seems to be a reoccurring offense. For example, Jesse James, now ex-husband of A-List actress Sandra Bullock, was accused of cheating on Bullock with many women. Talk show host David Letterman recently admitted to cheating on his wife and engaging in sexual relationships with women who work on his show. Finally, actor Jude Law allegedly was involved with the nanny, leading his fiancé, Sienna Miller, to call off their engagement, and she did so in a very public manner (Murray, 2005).

**Sex Scandals and Professional Athletes** Professional athletes seem to have it all: million-dollar paychecks, fame, and beautiful women. In 2009, the world-famous golfer, Tiger Woods, found himself in a web of women. Within a year, woman after woman came forward to admit themselves as one of Woods’ mistresses (Johnston, 2009). The excessive amount of women forced Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, a Swedish former bathing suit model, to go through a very public divorce in August of 2010 (Canning, 2010). Another recent scandal involved Tony Parker, point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. Parker married actress Eva Longoria in 2007, but was caught a few years later exchanging intimate messages and pictures with another woman. Both parties filed for divorce at the end 2010 (Meyers, 2010). **Why do they do it?** From the time little boys can play, they are taught to value hierarchy, power, and competitiveness. These attributes are amplified when the men have fame and money. When sex scandals occur, the act of cheating can happen for a variety of reasons. In regards to sexual communication, this could cover many different motivations for cheating, extramarital affairs, performing sexually explicit acts, etc. Because these sex scandals involving politicians, celebrities and athletes are linked to people with fame, power, and money, they contain special circumstances in which people that are not in the spotlight do not necessarily have to deal with. **//Social and Sexual Attraction//** Houston (2008) goes into more detail: These politicians, celebrities and athletes have fame that automatically makes them socially attractive to others. This makes it easier for them to fulfill the human need for affiliation and need for intimacy. Since social attraction is a precursor for sexual attraction, people with fame and power are also seen as more sexually attractive. They may feel pressure from their other “famous” peers to do things that they normally would not. While there is no cheating gene, these types of people cheat on their spouses for a sense of entitlement. Houston (2008) explains that famous people feel that, because of who they are, they can do as they please and become sexually involved with whomever they wish, and without consequences. There is also evidence that athletes, politicians, and celebrities who cheat use their power and fame to their advantage so that they can get away with it. Houston (2008) says that they have extramarital affairs because they feel that their wives will not punish them, or will forgive them, simply because of their status. This is especially common with politician’s wives. **//No Strings Attached Mentality//** In an article in Cosmopolitan, (Why Guys Cheat, 2009) there is an interview with Don-David Lusterman, PhD, author of //Infidelity: A Survival Guide//. Lusterman says that men of high success and status often feel a sense of superiority, and by being involved with multiple women in a no-strings-attached sexual relationship, is a way to reinforce their power (Why Guys Cheat, 2009). Especially while men are on the road and traveling, these short-term relations with other women are a way to satisfy sexual needs and welcome a lack of commitment. **//Flirting outside of Committed Relationships//** Flirting is a common social interaction that both men and women participate in. The problems that arise from flirtatious act come when the motivations between two parties are different. These motivations include courtship, relationship maintenance, quasi-courtship, esteem building, and reward. This is particularly relevant to flirting that occurs within the workplace; one party may believe that the other is flirting platonically, while the other has sexual motivations. When men of power flirt with subordinates, these lines of motivation are blurred and can lead to misinterpretation (aka: a sex scandal). **Conclusion** Sex scandals involving politicians, celebrities, and athletes have been around for decades. People with fame, power, and money feel that they can get away with cheating on their spouses easier, and also believe they will be forgiven quicker. Their status makes these men socially and sexually more attractive. These men of supremacy have the ability to engage in no strings attached relationships, and also constantly have women throw themselves at them. Temptation, pressure, stress, and feelings of entitlement lead these men to sexually venture outside of their committed partners (Walker, 2010). Sex scandals, such the events previously noted, will continue to be prominent in American society. **References** Allen, Nick. (2010, March 18). Jesse James apologizes to Sandra Bullock over affair reports. //TheTelegraph.co.uk//. Image retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7475532/Jesse-James-apologises-to-Sandra-Bullock-over-affair-reports.html Block, Jenny. (2010, September 2). Fox on Sex: Lessons Learned From the Biggest Celebrity Sex Scandals. FoxNews.com. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/09/02/fox-sex-lessons-learned-biggest-celebrity-sex-scandals/ Canning, Andrea & Netter, Sarah. (2010, August 24). Tiger Woods Divorce: Golf Phenom Already Getting Propositioned. //ABCnews.com//. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/tiger-woods-divorce-golf-phenom-propositioned/story?id=11466507 Gibbs, Nancy. (1998, February 2). Clinton’s Crisis: Truth or…Consequences. //Time.com//. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,987739,00.html Houston, Ruth. (2008, July 20). Why Celebrities, Sports Stars, and Public Figures Cheat on Their Mates. Retrieved from http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=40946 Johnston, Lauren. (2009, December 8). Tiger Woods Update. //NYDailyNews.com//. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/10/2009-12-10_meet_the_mistresses_key_players_in_the_tiger_woods_sex_scandal.html Meyers, Kelly. (2010, December 3). Tony Parker’s Alleged Mistress Speaks. //Kiss951.radion.com//. Retrieved from http://kiss951.radio.com/2010/12/03/tony-parkers-alleged-mistress-speaks/ Murray, Rebecca. (2005, July 22). Jude Law Comes Clean On Cheating. //About.com//. Retrieved from http://movies.about.com/od/lawjude/a/judelaw072005.htm Rothstein, Betsy. (2011, January 18). Monica Lewinsky’s Drudge Anniversary. //FishbowlDC//. Image retrieved from http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/monica-lewinksys-drudge-anniversary_b28876 Sanders, Shamika. (2010, November 19). Tony Parker Speaks On Eva Longoria Divorce. //TheUrbanDaily.com//. Image retrieved from http://theurbandaily.com/gossip-news/shamika-sanders/tony-parker-speaks-on-eva-longoria-divorce/ Walker, Katie. (2010, April 21). Why Celebrities Cheat. Retrieved from http://media.www.thebottomlineonline.org/media/storage/paper1077/news/2010/04/21/ThePulse/Why-Celebrities.Cheat-3906869-page2.shtml Why Guys Cheat on Hot Women. (2009, December 2). //Cosmopolitan.com//. Retrieved from http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/relationship-advice/why-guys-cheat-hot-women?click=cos_new?click=fb2_rel Yourish, Karen & Stanton, Laura. (2010, May 18). A History of Political Sex Scandals. //WashingtonPost.com//. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/2009/sexscandal/index.html