THE MISCONCEPTIONS OF POLYGAMY

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “polygamy?”

Everyone has an opinion on this topic! Some may be for polygamy and some may be against. Having said that, I am not sure if everyone has a good enough grasp to truly take a stance. I have heard a lot of rumors and been given a lot of misconceptions on what exactly polygamy is.

Supposedly men only participate in order to cheat on their partner, polyamorists are more prone to STD’s, and polyamory is for hippies along with those who have fetishes and greedy personalities. I only know know one side of polygamy and that side focuses on the negatives rather than the positives.

Polygamists are married to multiple partners and polyamorists engage in relationships with multiple individuals without being married. Now I am not saying polygamy or polyamory is right, but it’s important to know where each side is coming from.

One of the most common misconceptions is that polyamory is just a way to cheat on your spouse/partner. It turns out that isn’t necessarily the case! Polyamorists and polygamists put great focus on communication within their relationships. Every individual is aware of what the relationship is, what’s okay and what’s not. “Cheating” doesn’t exist in these types of relationships because the communication remains open and honest.

Once again, I am not saying that people should participate in either one. But I do think it’s interesting to compare these types of relationships with our current one’s.

Cheating seems to be at an all time high lately! We all either know someone who has been cheated on or we ourselves have been cheated on. Relationships aren’t what they used to be and some people are asking the question: “Are people “Naturally” Polygamous?”  Look around. We see celebrities within the media who go from one partner to the next. There is even this belief that dating is similar to shopping. We are supposed to date around in order to discover who we are and what we like. The age of always having one partner for life seems to be disappearing.

It might be time to readjust our understanding of what makes a “good relationship.” Every relationship is based off individual preferences and if there’s anything we have learned over the year’s it’s that relationships are hard and without guarantees.

According to an article from Cosmopolitan, “Most polyamorists go against stereotypes, building lasting, meaningful relationships with two, three, or more people.” Lasting and meaningful relationships are what it’s all about and if polygamists can get there then cheers to them!