March 20, 2008

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Why do you think strong women stand by their husbands when their husbands are admitting they had relations with another woman? (Asked at the Almaden Center)

“We’re always taught not to pass judgment. I don’t walk in her shoes so I won’t pass judgment. You don’t know what motivates personal relationships.”

Gail Cirone, 55
Almaden
Principal, St. Frances Cabrini School


“There’s an emotional bonding [in long-term relationships/marriage] that goes on that makes it hard to explain. Even with marital problems, there’s a strong bond that can help lead to forgiveness.”

Diana Bluer
Almaden
Homemaker


“I think because women are very nurturing they give the people they love a large margin of error. Women understand that people make mistakes and they are more compassionate. Even when they feel bad, they still have compassion. I think they’ve [the Spitzers] been married for their entire adult lives, and there obviously was no love involved in his playing around.”

Pilar Boisvert, 45
Almaden
Homemaker


“For one thing, all we saw was what was in public. We don’t know what she [Mrs. Spitzer] will do in the long haul. It might have been a huge shock for her and the dust is still settling. Hillary stayed with Bill for political reasons."

Mary True, 62
Downtown San Jose
Retired


“There’s definitely a pride factor that makes some women put on a strong face in the face of adversity. And, there’s also pressure from the internal team in terms of getting people to behave in a certain way. Although, I’m betting there’s been a certain amount of private wrangling. What she’s [Mrs. Spitzer] doing in private is probably quite a bit different than her public persona.”

Coreen Booth, 43
Almaden
Pharmaceutical consultant


“Some people stand by their religious beliefs, ‘until death do you part.’ Maybe she’s afraid she can’t get anyone else and she’s worried about being alone. It’s scary to think about change when
you’ve been in a relationship for a long time.”

Jessica Virginia, 18
Almaden
Senior at Presentation High School


“I think these women do it for their family, for their children. They just say it to support their children’s father, even though I’m not sure I would have stood there. She looked very sad and I felt for her.”

Annie Purinton, 41
New Almaden
Homemaker


“Publicly they do, but privately they probably don’t.”

Sarah Fraks, 41
Almaden
Horse trainer