The terms "mistress" and "someone having an extramarital affair" are often used in the context of romantic or sexual relationships outside of a committed partnership. However, there are distinctions between the two:
Mistress:
- A mistress is typically a woman who is engaged in a long-term, ongoing, and often secretive extramarital relationship with a married man.
- The relationship is usually characterized by a degree of exclusivity and emotional involvement, and it may involve financial support from the man to the mistress.
- Mistresses are historically associated with being kept secret and being the "other woman" in a love triangle.
Extramarital affair:
- This term is more general and can apply to both men and women who are involved in a romantic or sexual relationship outside of their marriage or committed partnership.
- An extramarital affair can be short-term or sporadic and might lack the level of emotional attachment found in a mistress scenario.
- The people involved in an extramarital affair might not be financially dependent on each other, and their relationship may not be as deep or exclusive as a mistress arrangement.
In summary, a mistress is typically a long-term and exclusive partner involved with a married man, while someone having an extramarital affair can refer to any individual engaged in a relationship outside their marriage, without the specific connotations of exclusivity or gender. It's essential to note that these situations are ethically complex and can cause emotional distress for all parties involved, including the spouse in the primary relationship.