The End of Monogamy? An Exploration of Non-monogamous Relationship Dynamics

Abstract

Although monogamy is the dominant relationship style in the Western world, there are alternative options for non-monogamous relationship dynamics. This paper works to explore how the roots of how monogamy became the dominant structure, the hidden drawbacks of monogamy, how those who assert monogamy to be compulsory hold a stigma against those who partake in other dynamics, and how this stigma can work to oppress. It also explores what those dynamics are, who participates in them, and a myriad of benefits that non-monogamous relationships can have. Overall coming to the conclusion that everyone should be able to make an informed decision, free of societal judgment, to partake in whatever dynamic they may choose.

Gender: A Postmodern Idea Developed in Association with the Modern Concept of Sex in Considering the Implications for Evolving Sexuality

“…Now that contraceptive protection against pregnancy was available to women (and abortion on demand started to become available throughout the world beginning in the late 1950s as a result of the direct consequences resulting from the legal recognition of women's civil rights [109], further separating sex from reproduction), the playboy lifestyle was increasingly advanced in popular culture to become the "sexual revolution"-normalizing all forms of sexual exploration, including those outside the normal sexual boundaries imposed by the modern concept of sex as reproduction [110]. Marriage itself as a boundary was expanded with the swapping of mates in what was known as "swinging" [111] while same-sex encounters that arose from orgies [112] and in and of themselves became accepted as commonplace [113] during this in-between period when sexuality was reappraised to be primarily about pleasure rather than reproduction.…”