Sandra Bullock & Jesse James – Photo credit: examiner.com

I met L through a friend of a friend of a friend (at this point, I probably met her more than she met me, but that’s besides the point). Actually I met her Hermes bag first, which magnetically kept my eyes glued on it as I was introduced to her. Some stare at boobs, I stare at expensive, unique luxury purses; to each her own. Luxurious purse or not, the woman looked incredibly successful. No wonder she had just gotten promoted to Vice President of her firm! Oh and rumor was, as she announced to her dear hubby she had finally broken through that stupid glass ceiling, he let her know he had already broken through her successful career woman’s heart and slept with the intern in Accounts Payable…Ouch!

Typical, right? Brilliant, attractive woman gets to the pinnacle of her career, and less brilliant, more threatened man, cheats, aka the Sandra Bullock-Jesse James syndrome! In a twenty-first century where men’s inner sense of security is still tied to their earnings, despite all the talks about gender equality, closing the pay gap, smashing the glass ceiling etc, making more money than your man or receiving more accolades than he does, still puts your relationship at risk. And chances are, you know it, and you’re doing your best to make him feel like he’s still the man. Things like downplaying your successes, washing the dishes, ordering take-out and pretending you cooked, you know, whatever it takes…

According to this 2013 Catalyst report, 37.6% of wives out-earn their husbands, within the same household. Given that “roughly 30 to 60% of all married individuals will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriages”, it’s not exactly surprising these two factors combine to create difficult situations for  and around successful, partnered women, and their partners.

Is the solution to ask women to dim their successful lights? Educate both men and women on the meaning of success nowadays? Or just hope and pray for the best? I don’t have an answer, but I sure hope L found the right answer for her and is still strutting her stuff, inspiring other women and giving purse addicts like myself, well deserved “porgasms” (orgasms triggered by the sight of unbelievable purses, help me out here, please…).

The Corporate Sis.