In American culture, relationships, commitment, and sex are synonymous with monogamy. However, this is not always the case. Monogamy is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the state or practice of being married to only one person at a time" or "of having only one sexual partner during a period of time." Alternatively, polyamory is defined as "the state or practice of having more than one open romantic relationship at a time."
The word polyamory derives from both Greek (poly) and Latin (amory) roots and can be directly translated to mean "many loves." This is an idea of which popularity has risen a great deal in mainstream media over the last couple of decades.
To the average American, monogamy represents a normal part of life. Children grow up dreaming of finding their one-true love or soul-mate, objectives which are heavily emphasized in many popular television shows and film. People who choose a non-monogamous lifestyle are often considered to be violating important social norms. Because monogamy has been weaved into American society over the course of years, there are many factors aiding its persistence in the community. All 50 states in the U.S. have standing laws prohibiting polygamy and nearly half of them have statutes against adultery. The relevance in these laws is that a couple who is married in those states cannot legally be involved in polyamorous relationships, even if those relationships are mutually agreed upon. This increases the likelihood of dissonance occurring between partners in a polyamorous setting.
Religious beliefs, moral edicts, and opinions held by the general public are a few other factors working in favor of monogamy. The concept of polyamory is one which often holds negative connotations among the populace. Many people have moral or religious obligations which hold them back from accepting more liberal approaches to love and relationships. This is important to note because it demonstrates why people may be hesitant in joining a polyamorous community or transitioning into an open relationship.
In general, people tend to view monogamous relationships in a more positive light than polyamorous relationships. The overall consensus held by the general public is that couples in non-monogamous relationships are not happy. One possible reason for this may be that the idea of polyamory threatens the cultural image of what marriage should look like and upsets the status quo. These are only a few of the social hardships couples may face by choosing a polyamorous lifestyle over a monogamous one.
Polyamorous relationships are built on a foundation of open and honest communication among all partners. It has often been emphasized in research that poly love involves hard work along with a dedication to each partner. Polyamory, like monogamy, is rooted in love. This love may be expressed emotionally, spiritually, sexually, or all three. Several researchers have stressed that poly love is based on the values of freedom, honesty, and commitment. This is relevant because it gives a new perspective on how non-monogamous relationships can be arranged. The tendencies to rely on deceit or lies to cover up infidelity are no longer an issue. However, other issues can arise involving the communication between partners. One issue that is often a point of contempt for many people is jealousy.
People often assume that polyamorous relationships are synonymous with feelings of jealousy and betrayal that often rise with the knowledge of their spouse or partner engaging their needs with another lover. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Polyamorous relationships open the door for an individual's needs to be met by several partners, which takes the pressure off one romantic partner to meet overset expectations. Some researchers even employ the notion that polyamorous relationships may satisfy a person's sexual and emotional needs to a greater degree than do monogamous relationships. These ideas support the indication that change does occur involving the communication between newly polyamorous couples. However, change is not always a bad thing and may possibly even work to strengthen the honesty and commitment between significant others.CONTINUE READING HERE
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