I usually talk about my dating experiences in this series, but I decided to touch on something that’s been bothering me recently. Infidelity. For some reason “sidepieces” have become socially acceptable, and I’m not okay with that. They’re being praised in various media, and women are even aspiring to be them instead of desiring a monogamous relationship. And it’s moved past people latching on to married celebrities and sports figures, the common man now brags about having multiple women aside from their “main chick”. Now I’m all for dating around as long as both parties know that things aren’t exclusive and both parties are okay with it, but that’s not the case with “side pieces”. I’ll speak on the most common situation: one man and multiple women. In these, the men are not only being greedy, but they’re lying. Not just by the actual act of cheating, but by deceiving their significant other and making them thing that they wanted to have a monogamous relationship.
I was having a heart to heart with one of my loved ones recently and this is what she had to say. “Side pieces” have been around for a long time. They’re now more popular because people now want instant gratification. These men have their wives at home, taking care of the household, children and that things of that nature; and then there are the “side pieces” who are just as promiscuous as the men they’re sleeping with. These women rarely say no to various sexual advances and gifts, and lavish in the fact that they don’t have to deal with their men 24/7. Some “side chicks” see the cheating man as an investment in their futures; and sometimes it is in situations where the guys shell out money and other expensive items and trips. The “side chicks” often believe that the men will leave their wives and family, but that rarely happens.
“Side pieces” are starting to be glorified in the media. Take the show ‘Scandal’ for example. It is set up so that the viewer actually roots for Olivia Pope and the President to be together. We all know that Fitz is married, but we want him to end up with his mistress. I don’t even know where to begin with the music industry. With songs like “Main Chick” by Kid Ink, “Side Piece” (who’s chorus is literally “I left home to be with my side piece”) by Pokey, “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town, “Does He Love You” by Reba and “My Little Secret” by Xscape (the role was reversed in this one, it was the woman who had multiple men) we hear artists bragging about lying to their significant others to have someone on the side.
I honestly don’t get it. Why lie? If you don’t want to be with one person, don’t. But don’t lie to your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife and lead them to believe that you’ll be faithful to them and only them when that’s not the plan. I understand that people fall in and out of love, and that not everything can be fixed with time and therapy, but both parties should be adults at that point and end things. Having a “side piece” or being one is nothing to brag about. Betty Wright was wrong in her hit “After the Pain”, having a piece of a man is not better than having no man at all.
What do y’all think?
Thank you! I can't stand this concept of "sidepieces." There is nothing about it that's okay.