Monogamy Vs Polyamoy

Human sexuality is a very complex and can have many different interpretations. Although monogamist relationships tend to be the norm accepted by society, many variations in human sexuality have recently challenged social, ethical and political expectations. One of the most controversial relationships is those involved with more than two individuals; such as polyamory, polygamy or polygyny. Although homosexual and bisexual relationships eventually gained their own identity in United States; multi-party relationships are still far from gaining acceptance into a monogamous based society. In this paper I will discuss possible factors that contribute to the negative societal response and I will discuss why some individuals accept polyamory in spite

Contrary to the common view of multi-party relationships being a free-for-all, polyamorists articulate an ethical vision that encompasses self-knowledge, radical honesty, consent, self-possession, and privileging love and sex over jealousy (5). Although the participants date outside of their relationship, they are following the set guidelines therefore they are not doing harm to the relationship. Many polyamorous relationships are structured around honesty, therefore if they are honest and upfront about whom they are dating than it is generally accepted within the group. Openness to other possibilities could prevent polyamorous relationships from ending because the outside attraction or sex might allows a flexibility that enables their relationship to survive through changing needs and desires. (50). Polyamorous relationships are able to function because they are based on honesty and the participants are very tolerant to jealous emotion. The reason monogamous people usually reject polyamorous relationships is because in general people tend to reject practices that act in opposition to their own beliefs and customs. As a result, polyamory is typically accepted by people who fully understand and embrace the ethics and functionality involved

Because society accepts monogamous relationships as the norm, the idea of multiple parents raising children under one roof has received a negative response. Many people believe that polyamorous relationships might be less stable because there are more participants or because participants are open to other relationships, therefore they would be too engaged on one another to care adequately for the children (50). This criticism is typically received by heterosexual monogamous couples that are not aware of the ethics and structure involved in many polyamorous relationships. Contrary to what many people believe, individuals involved in polyamorous relationships have argued quite the opposite. More hearts and hands contributes positively to the care of children; some have suggested that polyamory provides the village it takes to raise a child (50). This is a possible explanation for why people decide to engage in polyamorous relationships. If a home has multiple parents, then sitters and day care are no longer an issue. Polyamorous relationships can allow freedom for the parents to satisfy their own individual needs, but it also guarantees that their children will always be around somebody that they can trust and who is