Is it acceptable in French culture to take a mistress? How is this viewed by the French in general?

Question

Is it acceptable in French culture to take a mistress? How is this viewed by the French in general?

Answer 1

LoL, in France, the 2 last presidents, Mitterrand and Chirac, were known for their regular extra-marital relations and nobody judge it.

It's not because it's good, just because everybody do what he or she want of is own life. In France it's badly seen but it but nobody judge.

Answer 2

It may have been ok for upperclass men to have a mistress in the 1800s and precendent. But today, just like in all modern western societies it is seen as adultry and unfair to you wife.

Answer 3

No it is not acceptable, the wives are hurt as much as anywhere else in the world!!!

But it is frequent, and it happens to everybody : France's president to the common people.

The thing is we do not judge, or punish or make a big deal of it publicly, these are private matters and are dealt in private.

This is a big difference from the USA where I live, the adulterous  adventures are dealt publicly, the media and people are debating about it, ie: Clinton-Lewinsky or the recent Gavin Newson (mayor of SF) public apology.