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12.00h-13.30h, on-campus
Blandijn room 3.30 - Camelot (third floor) Campus Boekentoren, Blandijn Blandijnberg 2, Ghent University

In this lunch seminar, Simone Schneider will present her work on infidelity in intimate relationships, drawing on qualitative interviews with people in and around London who have personal experiences of cheating, relationship transgressions, and affairs.

What is it like when your partner cheats on you? How do people negotiate and manage this experience? In this presentation, Simone will focus on the accounts of those who have been cheated on or whose partner has had an affair. She argues that infidelity calls into question individuals’ sense of self and their (couple) identity, in particular, in light of contemporary ideas around choice, recognition, and (anticipated) stigma. Against this background, Simone examines the various forms of identity and recognition work that people engage in when dealing with infidelity. Namely, different narratives and strategies allow them to restore their sense of self, self-worth, and agency. Finally, she links this analysis to broader discussions on gender and sexual identity, the role of romantic relationships, as well as singularity and ordinariness.

Simone Schneider is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge. Her research explores cultural and social processes in the realms of intimacy and sexuality. In her dissertation, Simone studies the meanings, norms, and practices of infidelity in intimate relationships.

Tuesday 16 September 2025
12h00 - 13h30 

Join us in person, no registration required
Blandijn room 3.30 - Camelot (third floor)
Campus Boekentoren
Blandijn Blandijnberg 2
9000 Ghent