Encyclopedia of Women in Today&#39;s World &lt;a class=&quot;ref page&quot; href=&quot;/reference/womentoday#the-multimedia-encyclopedia-of-women-in-todays-world-2013&quot;&gt;The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today&#39;s World&lt;/a&gt;

Mary ZeissStange; Carol K.Oyster; Jane E.Sloan

doi:10.4135/9781412995962

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Mistresses

Edited by:
Mary Zeiss Stange
,
Carol K. Oyster
&
Jane E. Sloan
In:Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World <a class="ref page" href="/reference/womentoday#the-multimedia-encyclopedia-of-women-in-todays-world-2013">The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World</a>
Chapter DOI:https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995962
Subject:Women in Management, Sociology of Gender, Women's Studies

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The term mistress has various meanings in our modern world. The most common use of the term describes women who have ongoing extramarital relationships with married men. Usually these relationships are continuing, secretive, and sexual in nature. Also, many married men provide financially for their mistresses. The term mistress is usually reserved for use in extramarital relationships only. The term does not require that the involved female be married, only the male. The acceptance, motivations, and levels of stigma attached to mistresses have changed over time and vary from one culture to the next.

Historic Evolution and Significance

The term mistress dates back to the 14th century and originates from Anglo-French and Middle English roots. The term's original usage described a woman with power, ...

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  Stange, M. Z., Oyster, C. K., & Sloan, J. E. (Eds.) (2011). . (Vols. 1-4). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995962
  
  Stange, Mary Z., Carol K. Oyster, and Jane E. Sloan, eds. Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. First, 4 vols. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995962.
  
  Stange, M. Z., Oyster, C. K. and Sloan, J. E. eds., 2011. Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. FirstVol. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Available at: <https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995962> [Accessed 24 Sep 2023].
  
  Stange, Mary Z., et al., editors. Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. First, 4 vols. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011. Sage Knowledge, 24 Sep 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995962.
  
  Stange, Mary Z., Carol K. OysterJane E. Sloan. Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World Vol. 4. First ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2011. doi:10.4135/9781412995962
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