Past: A long time ago in some countries men could have more than one wife,or have a wife and many mistresses or concubinage(concubines). Having a mistress was a way to show that they can afford to pay for her living and so on(Not to show social ranking,U can be part of a powerful family,and can't afford a mistress). A Mistresses held greater power and influence over their lovers. Over time women became more educated ,and were able to support themselves.Thus finding being a mistress not as satisfying and they pursued relationships with unmarried men.
In Greece,Rome,China,Siam(Thailand),and The US had concubinage(concubines).Concubines were women that could not be married to the man if she is of lower social ranking or if the man was already married. Only men of high social ranking had concubines.Some men also had concubinus(a young male chosen to be a sexual partner). Concubinus were believed to be used for an adult male to demonstrated his masculine authority as head of household. A concubine was inferior to the wife,and even though they could produce heirs(children) the children were also considered inferior to the legitimate children. In Siam men could have multiple wives, that they could sell, as well as their children. The principal wife could only be divorced. If her husband died, she inherited the property rights to the secondary wives. In the US white men married or not married took enslaved females as concubines, because marriage between races was not allowed.
Present: Today men can't have as many wives or lovers as they can today. If a guy has a mistress he is looked down upon.A man who has a mistress today would be called a Sugar Daddy. Today if a man is married and he is caught with another woman it is considered adultery and he loses his wife and possibly everything he owns.Today men aren't allowed to have more than one wife or lover.
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