Maistesse

Maistesse is a term primarily used in the context of historical slavery, particularly in French-speaking colonies and territories. It refers to the mistress of a slave owner, often a woman who was enslaved herself or of mixed race, and who was in a relationship with a white man of higher social standing. This relationship could range from a formal arrangement to a more clandestine one, and often involved power dynamics inherent to the institution of slavery.

The role of the maistesse was complex and varied. In some instances, she might have held a degree of influence or privilege within the household due to her relationship with the owner. She could also be responsible for managing the domestic affairs and sometimes even the enslaved people on the plantation. The children born from such relationships, known as mulattoes or people of color, occupied a unique social position, often facing discrimination and legal limitations regardless of their father's status. The term itself carries connotations of both a mistress and a woman in a position of some authority within the domestic sphere, but always within the overarching system of slavery.