An impressive amount of research has been conducted on the phenomenon of patronage and clientage. In literature, patronage and clientage are often used synonymously, particularly because anthropological and social science research uses the pattern of patron-client relationships to describe certain forms of dependency and/or loyalty-based interaction in societies. Both expressions refer to a male-oriented concept in ancient Rome, in which the patron (patronus) represented the protecting partner in a dyadic relationship. The patron was required to assist the client (cliens) …