Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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SALT LAKE CITY -- The women who say they've cheated with Tiger Woods keep coming forward, creating more heated talk about why people have affairs.
Reactions to Tiger's infidelity are all over the map, but it appears those reactions depend on if you're talking to a man or a woman.
Tiger has made some women angry.
On Dec. 3, the hosts of ABC's "The View" weren't shy about expressing their feelings.
"When you are in the public eye, you have to be careful about what you do," said Barbara Walters.
We pay lip service to monogamy, but we support infidelity.
–Dr. Liz Hale
"You brought this on yourself. You brought this on your family," chimed in Sherri Shepherd.
Others are sad.
"I just think it's really sad that people are getting so lax in their commitments to marriage and each other," says one Utah woman.
Marriage and family therapist and clinical psychologist Dr. Liz Hale says some of the women she is working with whose husbands have cheated are not watching the news and don't want to talk about Tiger.
"They've noticed it and decided to turn a blind eye, instead of using it to deepen a further discussion and understanding," says Dr. Liz, who also points out researchers estimate 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women have had affairs.
"That 60 percent and 40 percent are not having affairs with each other we figure, so it's estimated that as high as 80 percent of marriages are affected by infidelity from at least one of the spouses," she says. "We are all vulnerable."
Everyone is vulnerable she says because we are not honest in marriage, honest about inevitable attractions and the things that push and pull people into affairs. But she's most concerned about all the attention Tiger, David Letterman, John Edwards and others get for these affairs. It's in movies, TV and magazines.
"We pay lip service to monogamy, but we support infidelity," Dr. Liz opines.
Some women blame Tiger's fame.
Most hope there could be a happy ending.
"Spend your time with your family. There's no need to be looking elsewhere."
Dr. Liz agrees, "I sincerely hope he can save his marriage."
Listen to part two of "The Trouble with Tiger" Friday morning at 5:40 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. on KSL.com or KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
