


Polyamory is also known as 'consensual non-monogamy', as explained by Dr Elisabeth Sheff, author of The Polyamorists Next Door, to Psychology Todayin 2018. The Macmillan dictionary describes the term 'polyamory' more accurately, noting: 'Having more than one serious, sexual-emotional relationship at the same time.' Essentially, there shouldn't be any 'I'm just nipping out for a few hours' secrets among those involved. This means that people in a polyamorous relationship should be aware of and agree to the relationship's dynamics, emotions and needs, from the outset and again every time the dynamic changes. 'Polyamory is an ethically, honestly, and consensually driven relationship structure that allows us to engage in many loving relationships,' sex-positivity educator, Lateef Taylor, told Shape in 2019. While technically correct, sex and polyamory educators argue that this definition ignores a vital component: consent. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the term as: 'The state or practice of having more than one open romantic relationship at a time.' Many of us might like the sound of a polyamorous relationship in theory, but how does it work in practise? Here's everything you need to know about polyamory and what it means to be in a polyamorous relationship: What is polyamory? However, only about five per cent of Americans currently live a non-monogamous lifestyle.
WHAT IS A MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIP STYLE TV
From TV shows like House of Cardsto celebrities admitting that they’re in open relationships, polyamory – otherwise known as 'consensual non-monogamy' (CNM) – is very much in the cultural ether.Ī January 2020 YouGov poll found that approximately one-third of US adults (based on a group of 1,300 people) say that their ideal relationship is non-monogamous to some degree. Though the concept has been around for centuries, polyamory has come further into the forefront of people's consciousness in recent years. Sounds complicated? Perfect? Confusing? A recipe for disaster? How a polyamorous relationship works might sound complex at first, but it's often misunderstood. Polyamory allows for you to be in consenting relationships with more than one person, concurrently. Polyamorous relationships are a further rejection of the monogamous relationship convention. You may think that the idea of a soulmate is unrealistic, believe that you will encounter several Ones in your life or find the idea of needing a signifiant other at all rather insulting ('So what, we’re incomplete if we choose to be on our own?'). Storybooks, fairytales and the media have hardwired many of us into believing we will eventually meet ‘The One’ – the person we’re supposed to spend the rest of our lives with.
