It’s complicated.
There are many different types of relationships: there are open relationships and codependent relationships. There are “convenient” relationships and long-distance relationships. And there are FWB relationships (friends with benefits).
But what does SD/SB mean and what type of relationship is this dynamic? Well, the SD/SB meaning and acronym stands for Sugar Daddy (SD) and Sugar Baby (SB), but the affair is so much more than a title.
There is more to Sugar Daddies and Babies then a name. In fact, according to Bustle, “sugaring… is a type of relationship/lifestyle in which a Sugar Baby (SB) ‘provides companionship in exchange for being pampered,’ while a Sugar Daddy (SD) ‘pampers Sugar Babies in return for companionship.’”
But while the terms of the relationship can change, the general concept remains the same: SDs and SBs offer each other something in exchange for something else.
But according to Seeking Arrangements, there is one major distinction: “prostitute[s] and client[s] have a transactional relationship. They meet, exchange funds, and participate in some sort of physical act and [then] part ways. Typically, this is a one time occurrence. A job. [But] Sugar Babies and Sugar Daddies have ongoing relationships, not transactions. [And] more often than not, a Sugar relationship will resemble that of a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship. There are real connections and real possibilities at romance, something that is not in the realm of possibility with an escort or prostitute.”
Of course, this type of relationship is not for everyone — and that’s okay. The beauty of relationships is that they can be varied and unique. But SD/SB relationships are (and can be) just as good, strong, and loving as any relationship. Because love is love.
Nicole Lane is a wife, mother, writer, and regular contributor for YourTango. She is a staunch defender of women’s rights, she believes firmly in equality and parity, and she is an advocate for women’s health, mental health, and sexuality.
