A meet market (or meat market) is a location or activity in which people are viewed as commodities, or a business like a nightclub where people typically look for a

casual sex Casual sex is sexual activity that takes place outside a romantic relationship and implies an absence of commitment, emotional attachment, or familiarity between sexual partners. Examples are sexual activity while casually dating, one-night ...

partner.''Meat market'', The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed., at Dictionary.com
/ref> The term is also used metaphorically, for example, to refer to the process of deciding which man to "buy" for a husband,Janice Lieberman and Bonnie Teller, ''How to Shop for a Husband: A Consumer Guide to Getting a Great Buy on a Guy'', 2009, p. 82
/ref> or for finding a man to date at the grocery market.Joy Browne, ''Dating for Dummies'', 2nd ed., 2005, p. 76
/ref> In general, the term has evolved to mean a place or activity at which single people congregate,it Alone'', Newsweek, vol. 92, iss. 10-18
/ref> and while formerly a

pejorative A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a ...

has become neutral.Richard W. Flory and Donald Earl Miller, GenX Religion, 2000, p. 209
/ref>Bob Sehlinger, Deke Castleman, and Muriel Stevens, ''The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 2010'', 2009, p. 265
/ref>

Original connotations

The sexual revolution of the 1960s and the internal migration of Americans to big cities meant that singles events in mid and large-size cities quickly replaced local town activities where participants previously knew each other. By the 1970s, singles events had developed a reputation as a "ritual of lies and mistrust", replete with men in search of casual sex, cold and unfriendly women, and frequent misunderstandings.''The Singles Dance: A ritual of lies and mistrust'', Human Behavior, vol. 7, 1978
/ref> Events and bars, lounges, and nightclubs frequented by singles became known as meet/meat markets, or places where attendees rapidly sized up members of the opposite sex with objectifying criteria, such as attractiveness, wealth, and fashion sense, before taking the time to get to know attendees on a deeper level.Mary Jo Deegan, ''American ritual dramas: social rules and cultural meanings'', 1989, p. 36
/ref>Caroline Tiger, ''How to Behave Dating And Sex: A Guide to Modern Manners for the Socially Challenged'', 2006, pp. 16, 51
/ref>

Reclamation of term

In recent years, the term meet market has become neutral or even been

reclaimed Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to be confused with a waste landfill), is the process of creating new land from oceans, seas, riverbeds or lake beds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamati ...

largely by commentators on the single scene and event promoters. For example, a number of singles event promoters have chosen to name their events after some variation of the term. These uses include "Meet Market" for a singles mixer,Chandra Thomas, ''Fire Proof'', Atlanta, November 2007, p. 60
/ref> " Meet Market Adventures" for a company catering adventure experiences to singles,Michelle Waitzman, ''Sex in a Tent: A Wild Couple's Guide to Getting Naughty in Nature'', 2007, p. 155
/ref>''Meet Market Adventures: We bring adventure to the single life!'', Meet Market Adventures
/ref> and "'meet market' for Moses" for a Jewish singles event designed by religious organizations trying to ensure Jewish marriage and continuity. Dating commentators and city guides now discuss meet markets in benign or positive terms, counseling readers to make use of meet markets to find a refined established gentlemen who desires marriage,John T. Molloy, ''Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others: The Fascinating Research That Can Land You the Husband of Your Dreams'', 2004, p. 147
/ref> an enjoyable short-term young professional dating partner,Eve Zibart, ''The Unofficial Guide to Washington, Part 3'', 2009, p. 375
/ref> new friends of the same sex,Jerusha Stewart, ''The Single Girl's Manifesta: Living in a Stupendously Superior Single State of Mind'', 2005, p. 27
/ref> or a long-term committed relationship, if desired.Alison Blackman Dunham, ''The everything dating book: meet new people and find your perfect match!'', 2005, p. 18
/ref>

References

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