Proponents often tout polyamory as an ethical, \u201cconsensual\u201d form of non-monogamy. However, a recent survey, co-sponsored by the Wheatley Institution and Brigham Young University\u2019s School of Family Life, found that less than half of women who had been in a consensual non-monogamous relationship said that both partners desired the arrangement equally.<\/p>\n
And, among all survey respondents, it turned out<\/a> that \u201cmen desired an open sexual relationship almost four times more than their female counterparts.\u201d To be sure, plenty of male respondents in the survey reported that their female partner wanted an open relationship more than they did; but, no matter the direction of the data, the findings suggest that the mainstreaming of polyamory would likely result in many individuals (particularly women) feeling pressured to enter arrangements that would not be their first choice. And, as others have observed<\/a>, these findings should encourage an appropriate dose of doubt regarding the \u201cconsensual\u201d nature (for all affected parties) of so-called consensual non-monogamous relationships.<\/p>\n Another study (referenced here<\/a>) on this topic found that \u201ccommitment emerged as a central concept in polyamorous relationships\u201d but that when \u201crule violations\u201d of commitment occurred they were \u201cnot generally interpreted as \u2018cheating\u2019 but rather as opportunities to renegotiate agreements.\u201d In other words, even in polyamorous relationships, there are rules and violations of rules. The main difference, it appears, is that in \u201cradically honest\u201d relationships the dishonest partners \u2014 those who don\u2019t play by the rules \u2014 face few consequences.<\/p>\n How can this be considered honest?<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n I will take comments on this submitted by email only to KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com<\/i>.<\/p>\n Surprise, surprise: \u201cmen desired an open sexual relationship almost four times more than their female counterparts.\u201d So: guess who wins & who loses if polyamory gains? https:\/\/t.co\/jY3wFbyFmu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brad Wilcox (@WilcoxNMP) January 7, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n