Whatever happened to non-monogamies? Critical reflections on recent research and theory

Abstract

How to cite: Barker, Meg and Langdridge, Darren (2010). Whatever happened to non-monogamies? Critical reflections on recent research and theory. Sexualities, 13(6) pp. 748-772.For guidance on citations see FAQs. Whatever happened to non-monogamies? Critical reflections on recent research and theory AbstractThe last decade has seen an explosion of interest in consensually non-monogamous relationships. This paper critically reviews current research and theory in this area, focusing particularly on polyamory, swinging, and gay open relationships. The sociohistorical context in which these forms of relating emerged is considered and discussed in order to better understand why these has been such a significant increase in scholarly work on non-monogamies at this moment. Furthermore, we categorise the extant literature into two groups, 'celebratory' and 'critical', and argue that such polarisation frequently works to reinforce partial and dichotomising understandings of the topic. Research so far has primarily concentrated on the rules and boundaries which people employ to manage such relationships and we contend that future work needs to pay more attention to diversities of meanings and practices, intersections with other identities and communities, and the troubling of dichotomous understandings 1 .

What does Bancroft’s Human Sexuality and its Problems tell us about current understandings of sexuality?

“…or asexuality. In any of these cases it is encouraging to see them there, given that all three have tended to be excluded from understandings of human sexuality in the past (Barker & Langdridge, 2010). Similarly, with the combinations of three symbols, it is unclear whether they are intended to represent forms of bisexuality or forms of non-monogamous relationship.…”

Deconstructing the Ideal of Fidelity: A View from LGB Psychology

“…The Fewer the Merrier (TFTM) reports four empirical studies that draw attention to "our society's obsession with romantic ideals of fidelity," a welcome intervention "in the context of recent debates about same-sex marriage." There has been an explosion of qualitative work on non-monogamies in the past decade (Barker & Langdridge, 2010), and the quantitative studies reported here triangulate a halo effect surrounding monogamous relationships and the stigmatization of consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships. In this commentary, I argue that the contribution to this paper is best measured is seen through a lens that makes same-sex relationships more central to the analysis.…”

Learning to love again: ‘Broken families’, citizenship and the state promotion of coupledom

“…I propose that the British nation may now best be thought of as founded upon mononormativity rather than solely heteronormativity. Here, mononormativity refers to the 'ideological force of couple culture' (Budgeon, 2008: 302), the presumed desirability of coupledom, and discrimination against those whose intimate lives do not fit this conventional dyadic form (see Adeniji, 2001;Barker and Langdridge, 2010;Pieper and Bauer, 2005;Wilkinson, 2012). Adrienne Rich (1980) introduced the notion of 'compulsory heterosexuality' to describe the ways in which heterosexuality is enforced through societal pressures and economic incentives; this article examines how these now help to maintain not just heteronormativity but also mononormativity.…”