Have a conversation with someone who replied to this and gave an instance from a movie she just watched: “ Some people have really made cheating seem okay in relationships. It's like there's this weird double standard where women are expected to be loyal

**You:** I completely agree with you! It’s really frustrating to see how some media portrayals reinforce that double standard. Just the other day, I watched a movie that had a similar theme, where the male lead cheated but still expected his partner to forgive him without really understanding the damage he caused. It almost seemed like the film normalized his behavior. **Her:** Oh, I know exactly what you mean! I just watched a rom-com where the guy was unfaithful, but the story almost treated it like a joke. His girlfriend had to be the “understanding” one who eventually took him back, and it sent such a bad message about relationships. **You:** Exactly! It trivializes the pain caused by infidelity and puts all the emotional labor on the person who was cheated on. It’s like the film was saying, "Men can mess up, and it’s just part of the game," while women are expected to maintain their dignity and trust. **Her:** Right! It’s so disappointing because it reinforces those outdated stereotypes. What bothers me even more is when these kinds of stories end with the cheater redeeming himself or learning a lesson, while the person who was betrayed is left to pick up the pieces. **You:** Totally! The focus should be on accountability and the actual impact of cheating. It’s not just a plot point; it’s a real issue that can destroy relationships. I wish more movies would realistically depict the consequences of cheating instead of brushing it aside with a happy ending. **Her:** Same here! It would be refreshing to see a story where both partners work through their issues in a healthy way, rather than just accepting cheating as something that can be overlooked or patched up. There’s so much potential for more honest narratives about love and trust. **You:** Absolutely! Relationships should be about mutual respect and communication. Maybe if more films portrayed that, we could start shifting the conversation around loyalty and commitment in real life, too.