What does the word "mistress" mean & imply to you?

Posted: Jun 22, 08 5:56am

Some recent dialogue got me to thinking (i LOVE when that happens). What do people think about a "mistress"? What does the word mean to them? What does the word/role imply to them? How does it compare to a "wife" (same/different)? To spur discussion, I'll begin by sharing my own thoughts:

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A mistress isn't much different than a wife. It is a person who is sharing themselves with a man. The depth and extent they share themselves depends on the individuals involved, the context in which they spend time together, and the way that they utilize that time.

A mistress can be quite an honor, in my estimation. While sometimes equated to a "home wrecker", she could actually be a "home preserver". She generally helps fill the unmet needs of a married man. They may be mostly sexual, and they may not.

With unmet needs, some common approaches to meeting them is to 1) change the other person, 2) learn to go without, 3) try find a balance between 1&2, or 3) "trade in" the old spouse for a new one.

The fourth option of bringing another person in to satisfy the unmet needs is generally frowned upon in our culture (although still commonly practiced).

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So, having said all that, what are your thoughts and feelings on the subject of "mistress"?

(for those who will ask, the reason I am interested is because I am an endlessly curious person who likes to understand all peoples)