Entanglement In A Marriage: Is It Cheating?

Entanglement has become a major player in relationships and marriages. This is especially after the Jada Pinkett Smith and August Alsina Drama.

There is a movement in marriages, a movement that seems to be going nowhere in the coming years.

Ebuka Obi Uchendu’s  wife, Cynthia also made a viral tweet some years back regarding entanglements and open relationships.

In a now deleted tweet, she said 

“I have always said that there is nothing absolutely wrong with having an open marriage”

She also added that as long as the woman is kept on the loop then it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Which seriously begs the question; Is an entanglement the same as cheating and when is an entanglement not cheating?

I’m guessing by now you already have a basic idea of what an entitlement is or what It can look like. It looks a little different for people in marriages.

In a marriage, when you get “entangled” it is usually with a different partner outside your marriage.

When is an Entanglement cheating and when is it not cheating?

An entanglement becomes “Cheating” when the relationship you decide to have with another party outside of your partner is kept hidden.

If you don’t have  anything to hide and you do not  want to “cheat” on your partner, then you should be upfront so that they know what your plans are in terms of pursuing a new relationship.

On the other hand, in an open relationship, it’s hard for an entanglement to be called cheating.

Lots of couples have taken to practicing open relationships especially in recent times.

This has given men and females (especially men if we are being honest) the free will to engage in extra marital relationships  with consistency.

Open Relationship

An Open relationship is an intimate relationship that is sexually non-monogamous. The term is distinct from polyamory, in that it generally indicates a relationship where there is a primary emotional and intimate relationship between two partners, who agree to at least the possibility of sexual or emotional intimacy with other people.

Open relationships include any type of romantic relationship (dating, marriage, etc.) that is open. 

This is where one or more parties have full permission to be romantically or sexually involved with other people  outside of their relationship.

This is opposed to the traditionally “closed” relationship, where both parties agree on being with one another exclusively. Open relationships became recognized for the first time in the 1970s.

 An  entanglement in a marriage  can be seen as cheating if  you do not tell your significant other about your intimacy with another person.

If you have an open relationship with your partner or you’re clamoring for it and they somehow agree, then, you can get involved in an entanglement without the weight of feeling like you are cheating.

Can a non-physical part of an entanglement be regarded as cheating?

Cheating is beyond physicalities. It’s way beyond just sexual intrimacy. You can also emotionally cheat on someone. 

An entanglement  just like cheating, must not necessarily be based on physical and sexual aspects.

If you’re in a relationship (any form of romantic relationship) that is defined and you find yourself having deep feelings and connections with another person on an emotional level, then this could also be considered as an entanglement.

As long as you’re making a connection with someone on a romantic level and indulging them constantly, then you are in an entanglement.

If it is done in secret, you can also be said to be cheating.

Some people claim that open relationships that encourage entanglements and physical intimacy with other parties is good for marriages.

They claim that the freedom to live without restrictions on your romantic interests will further reinforce your love and devotion for your partner.

Marriage is not a simple conversation to have and I am of the first belief that there is no wrong or right way to do marriage as long as you’re doing what works best for you.

Some people have tried to take the boat of an open relationship that involved entanglements and it did not work out so good for them.

Some it turns out well and for some others; they are yet to see a defined change.

For Will and Jada, they have experienced the highs and lows of an entanglement. While it might seem like the perfect way to spice up your marriage in the aftermath of am entanglement breakup,  when it’s over and you’re left with your partner, it could be terrifying to walk though the rumbles created.

It’s important to not follow the trend of entanglements in marriages and instead discover how you can work through issues with your partner without seeking any external form of intimacy.

Marriage should be something special and shouldnexust between individuals who have deep love for one another. Rather than get into an entanglement with another partner, you can decide on a temporary separation.

My personal note on this subject;

I think every form of entanglement in a marriage is cheating.

Regardless of the agreement between both parties.

Entanglements in marriages make a mockery of what marriages should truly stand for. If you have to make your marriage or relationship an open one, then you probably should not be in one.

It’s very easy to get overwhelmed easily and influenced by the trends online, do not forget however that there are a thousand cases of people who are happy in long lasting marriages without the need for an entanglement or open relationship /marriages