Mistress vs. Girlfriend: What's the difference?

[iflynonstop]

Here’s my aunt’s story. She considers herself to be a mistress (not the dominatrix type). She is single, and has been involved with a married man for the last seven years. I know that society hates mistresses and feels them to be home wreckers. She’s content for things to stay as they are, even though he has no intention of leaving his wife. She thinks of this as something much more than just an affair, as though she is above that.

 

What’s the story with this? Does anyone understand how this kind of relationship works? What is the benefit to being the "other woman"? Can anyone direct me to any resources which discuss this type of relationship? Websites, forums and discussion groups, etc. that focus on mistresses?

 

She’s pretty much an outcast with the rest of my family, but I haven’t made any judgments myself. The way I see it, this is a really complex issue, so I want to learn more. It’s not as though I’m unaware that people have affairs all the time, but this kind of long-term involvement seems less common. Where can I talk to other people who carry on a similar lifestyle?

[BabyJulie]

I have a cousin in the same type of relationship. I can only guess that your aunt and my cousin feel above the "mistress" title because her relationship spans several years.

 

I can only gather that the benefits are; that they don't have the responsibility of a wife (household chores,kids,taking care of the family--physically and emotionally). And although they are involved in a long term relationship one benefit to her is that she dosen't have to worry about him--he is either with her, at work or with his wife (family).

 

Also, maybe she reconciles her feelings of inadequacies by telling herself she is providing him with what he is missing at home.

 

I think @ the end of the day when she has seen him and he has gone home: after the fun is over the only one she has to worry about is herself. Maybe even if this man wasn't married your aunt would still not want to marry.

 

This is a good question though.

 

or maybe

[LucreziaBorgia]

Can anyone direct me to any resources which discuss this type of relationship? Websites, forums and discussion groups, etc. that focus on mistresses?

 

Gloryb.com