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POLYAMORY

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What is Polyamory?

Polyamory is the practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships where individuals may have more than one partner, with the knowledge and consent of all partners. It involves maintaining multiple sexual and/or romantic relationships simultaneously. It has been described as "consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy."

The term should not be confused with polysexuality, which is an attraction towards multiple genders or sexes. Members of the polyamory community refer to themselves by the shorthand term, "poly."

Wikipedia: Polyamory

Showtime Series: Polyamory

Video: Polyamory Q&A

Reasons To Try Dating A Couple

NBC: What Open Relationships Have to Offer

Willow Smith: Explains Why She Prefers Polyamory Relationships

Meet a Polyamorous Thrupple

Info: Monogamy

The term "polyamorous" can refer to the nature of a person's relationships at some point in time or to a philosophy or relationship orientation (much like gender or sexual orientation). The word is sometimes used in a broader sense, as an umbrella term that covers various forms of multiple relationships, or forms of sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive. Polyamorous arrangements are varied, reflecting the choices and philosophies of the individuals involved, though there is disagreement on how broadly the concept of polyamory applies. An emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic. As of July 2009, it was estimated that more than 500,000 polyamorous relationships existed in the United States.

Polyamorous people practice "abundant love," the belief or philosophy that it is possible to love more than one person at the same time. People who identify as polyamorous typically reject the view that sexual and relational exclusivity are necessary for deep, committed, long-term loving relationships. Those who are open to, or emotionally suited for, polyamory may embark on a polyamorous relationship when single or already in a monogamous or open relationship. Sex is not necessarily a primary focus in polyamorous relationships, which commonly consist of people seeking to build long-term relationships with more than one person on mutually agreeable grounds, with sex as only one aspect of their relationships. In practice, polyamorous relationships are highly varied and individualized according to those participating. For many, such relationships are ideally built upon values of trust, loyalty, and the negotiation of boundaries, as well as overcoming jealousy, possessiveness, and the rejection of restrictive cultural standards.

Polyamory and Triads: Finding a Third

Video Interview: Answering Your Questions About Polyamory (1)

More Than Two: Learning the Poly Lingo

Interview: Perfect Polyamorous Relationship

Video Discussion: What About Polyamory?

Willow Smith Opens Up About Being Polyamorous

Huffington Post: Spark Chaser or Long Burner

Three Way Relationship: Beautiful Thing

Polyamory Explained

According to the Polyamory Society, Polyamory is defined as, "the non-possessive, honest, responsible and ethical philosophy and practice of loving multiple people simultaneously." Polyamory emphasizes consciously choosing how many partners one wishes to be involved with rather than accepting social norms which dictate loving only one person at a time. Polyamory is an umbrella term which integrates traditional multi-partner relationship terms with more evolved egalitarian terms. Polyamory embraces sexual equality and all sexual orientations towards an expanded circle of spousal intimacy and love. Polyamory is from the root words "poly" meaning many and "amour" meaning love hence "many loves" or "polyamory." Of course, love itself is a rather ambiguous term, but most polyamorous people seem to define it as a serious, intimate, romantic, or less stable, affectionate bond which a person has with another person or group of persons. This bond usually, though not necessarily always, involves sex.

Sexualove or eromance are other words which have been coined to describe this kind of love. "Responsible, ethical or intentional non-monogamy" is another popular description used to explain polyamory. Creative terms used in the poly community include throuple, threelationship, or polycule.

BBC: Polyamorous Relationships May Be the Future of Love

Interview with Polyamorous Thrupple

Research: Health and Wellness of Consensual Non-Monogamy

Video: How to Have an Open Relationship

Meet the Married Polyamorous Throuple

Questions People In Polyamorous Relationships Are Sick Of Hearing
Exploring Modern Polyamory

Types of Polyamory

Poly Definitions

Polyamory (Poly) - Umbrella term for various forms of non-monogamous, multi-partner relationships, or non-exclusive sexual or romantic relationships. Intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the informed consent of all partners involved. It is described as consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy. People who identify as polyamorous believe in an open relationship with a conscious management of jealousy. They reject the view that sexual and relational exclusivity are necessary for deep, committed, long-term loving relationships.

Polyfidelity (Polyfi) - Form of non-monogamy, an intimate relationship structure where all members are considered equal partners and agree to restrict sexual activity to only other members of the group. Polyfidelity describes the ethical behavior or faithfulness of a polyamorous relationship.

Metamour - In a polyamorous relationship, a metamour is your partner's other partner. A metamour is someone who is your partner's partner, but with whom you have no romantic relationship. This can be your partner's other boyfriend or girlfriend or your partner's spouse. Your partner's other partners, that you are not romantically or sexually involved with. My girl/boyfriend's other boy/girlfriends. A partner has several other partners. Each partner of a partner is a metamour.

Reasons To Try Dating A Couple

Meet the Married Polyamorous Throuple
NY Judge Rules Polyamorous Relationships Deserve Legal Protection
More Than Two: Polyamory FAQ

Huff Post: Inside Look at Open Relationships

Video: Signs Polyamory is Right for You

Research: Health and Wellness of Consensual Non-Monogamy

NM - Non-monogamy. Non-mongogamous melationship.

Throuple (Thrupple) - Most popular term used to describe an intimate relationship consisting of more than a couple (more than two partners). A throuple is three or more members who are romantically involved with each other.

Polycule - Connected network of people in non-monogamous relationships. The term apparently likens such a network to a model of a chemical molecule, which uses lines, circular shapes, or symbols to indicate bonds between atoms.

Constellation - Arrangement of members of a polyamorous relationship: tribe, triad, thrupple, throuple, troika, delta, quad, vee.

Unicorn - Sexually adventurous single bisexual female who lives with and dates a male/female couple. Slang for a woman who joins a heterosexual couple for a threesome.

FAQ: Love More

Reasons To Try Dating A Couple

Huff Post: Inside Look at Open Relationships

Bustle: Poly Terms You Should Know
More Than Two: Poly Glossary

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

CNN: When Three Isn't a Crowd

The Atlantic: Multiple Lovers Without Jealousy

Video: Signs Polyamory is Right for You

Poly Books

--Ethical Slut: Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures by Dossie Easton

--More Than Two: Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory by Franklin Veaux

--Opening Up: Guide to Creating & Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino

Poly Films

--Monogamish (Documentary Film, 2014)

Director: Tao Ruspoli. Writers: Tao Ruspoli, Mark Wrathall. Stars: Stephanie Coontz, Tao Ruspoli, Christopher Ryan.

IMDB: Monogamish

Monogamish: The Film

--The Unicorn (Independent Film, 2018)

Director: Robert Schwartzman. Writers: Will Elliott, Kirk C. Johnson. Stars: Lauren Lapkus, Nicholas Rutherford, Lucy Hale.

IMDB: The Unicorn

The Unicorn: The Film

More Than Two: Polyamory Myths

If You're Thinking About an Open Marriage, Consider This First

Interview: Perfect Polyamorous Relationship

NBC: What Open Relationships Have to Offer

Types of Polyamory

TED Talk: Rethinking Infidelity

Willow Smith: Explains Why She Prefers Polyamory Relationships

Poly Arrangements

Members of a polyamorous relationship describe their arrangement as a constellation. That constellation may be more specifically defined as a triad, delta, quad, vee, or simply the letter "N." You might also hear the terms thrupple, trouple or troika. When describing a polyamorous network, terms like tribe, molecule, or polycule are used.

Typically, an existing couple seeks out a "third" to join their relationship. This third member, usually a woman, is sometimes called an HBB (hot bi babe). Often referred to as a "unicorn," such a woman would love both the man and woman in a pre-existing dyad equally and would be sexual with both of them.

However, there is a great deal of variety in polyamorous relationships. A polycule might include three or even four (or more) partners. A polycule might consist entirely of men (gay) or entirely of women (lesbian). It might be a mix of gay, lesbian, and bisexual members or a mix of cisgender and queergender members.

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

CNN: When Three Isn't a Crowd

Glossary of Polyamory Terms

Video Chat: Should You Be Polyamorous?

15 Honest Reasons Couples Choose to be Polyamorous

Meet a Polyamorous Thrupple

I Am in a Polyamorous Relationship

Interview with Polyamorous Thrupple

Unicorn

Being someone's unicorn means you are someone's fantasy. The unicorn is described as unattainable and perfect.

In the polyamory world, a unicorn is a young, single, sane, sexually adventurous, healthy bisexual female who wants desperately to live with and love a male/female couple. A unicorn, therefore, is slang for a woman who joins a heterosexual couple for a threesome.

Typically, the term "unicorn" is used to describe a bisexual person (usually though not always female) who is willing to join an existing couple, often with the presumption that this person will date and become sexually involved with both members of that couple. The unicorn will be the girlfriend to the couple. The couple is usually considered a primary relationship, while the girlfriend will be a secondary partner to both.

There is humor in the term because it can be difficult to find such an elusive third member. They are like a mythical creature that doesn't exist. The idea is that there are disproportionately more unicorn hunters than unicorns themselves.

Why Can't We Find a Third?

Confessions of a Real Life Unicorn

Unicorn Hunting

Perfect Polyamorous Thruple

I am a Unicorn in a Three-Person Relationship

Polyfidelity

A polyamorous relationship isn’t about sex. It’s about building a romantic relationship with more than one person at a time. Some poly relationships, called “polyfidelity” relationships, have rules not much different from a traditional monogamous relationship, only there are more than two people involved. A polyfidelitous triad (or constellation), for example, may have three people involved, with one person sexually active with the other two, or even with all three people sexually involved with one another. However, nobody in the relationship may take an “outside” lover, just as neither partner in a monogamous relationship is allowed to have an outside lover. If you do, that is considered cheating. Cheating, if anything, is a more serious offense in a polyfidelity relationship than in a monogamous relationship, because if you cheat, you are betraying more than one person’s trust.

Other polyamorous relationships may permit the people involved to have “outside” lovers under certain circumstances, often, for example, only if the outside lover is approved beforehand by everyone involved, and only if the outside lover knows the nature of the relationship.

The individual relationships within a polyamorous group may be very complex, as well. In many cases, there may be one “primary” couple (a husband and wife, for example). Either or both of those people may have outside lovers, but those relationships are “secondary” in the sense that they involve less involvement in the partners’ day-to-day lives than, say, a marriage does.

[Source: More Than Two]

Research: Health and Wellness of Consensual Non-Monogamy

Exploring Modern Polyamory

Polyamory and Triads: Finding a Third

Willow Smith Opens Up About Being Polyamorous

Info: Monogamy

Interview: Perfect Polyamorous Relationship

Unicorns Rule

Types of Polyamory

Video Interview: Answering Your Questions About Polyamory (2)

Glossary of Polyamory Terms

NBC: What Open Relationships Have to Offer

I Am in a Polyamorous Relationship

8 Signs Polyamory is Right for You

Psychology Today: 7 Forms of Non-Monogamy

Willow Smith: Explains Why She Prefers Polyamory Relationships

Bustle: Poly Terms You Should Know
More Than Two: Poly Glossary

Video: Should You Be Polyamorous?

Polyamory Society

More Than Two: Polyamory Myths

15 Honest Reasons Couples Choose to be Polyamorous

Menage a Trois

Literally translated from French, "menage a trois" means 'house of three.' It is sexual activity involving three people. It is a romantic threesome, triad, throuple, or thrupple. It is a relationship in which all three people involved live together. It is a relationship composed of three people. It is a union or group of three. It is a relationship in which each of the three people is sexually and emotionally involved with all the other members.

Wikipedia: Polyamory

Showtime Series: Polyamory

Meet a Polyamorous Thrupple

Unicorn Hunting

Meet the Married Polyamorous Throuple

Questions People In Polyamorous Relationships Are Sick Of Hearing

Reasons To Try Dating A Couple

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

Interview with Polyamorous Thrupple

Swinging, Free Love, Cheating, or Polygamy?

So polyamory is like swinging? Not exactly. Swinging has a different focus. Swingers focus on recreational sex, though friendships and deeper bonds may develop. With polyamory, deep relationships are the focus, though the sex is often fun.

So, you have another partner on the side? No. That is something different as well. The technical term for that is “cheating.” The thing that defines a polyamorous relationship is that everyone involved knows about, and agrees to, everyone else’s involvement.

What's the Difference: Polyamory and Polygamy

Polygamy, Polyamory, Polygyny, Polyandry, and More

Video Chat: Polyamory Questions and Answers

More Than Two: Learning the Poly Lingo

Questions People In Polyamorous Relationships Are Sick Of Hearing

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

Interview: Perfect Polyamorous Relationship

Jessica O'Reilly TED Talk: Monogamish and New Rules of Marriage

Three Way Relationship: Beautiful Thing

If you are married, and you have a girlfriend that your wife doesn’t know about, or that your wife suspects but isn’t sure about, or that your wife knows about but isn’t happy with, you’re not poly, you’re cheating. Similarly, if you’re banging the milkman while your husband is out of town, you’re not poly, you’re cheating.

Polyamory is defined by informed consent of all the participants. Without it, it ain’t poly. If you can’t invite your lover over to Thanksgiving dinner with the rest of your family because you don’t want anyone to know what you’re doing, it probably ain’t poly.

Didn’t this whole “free love” thing die out in the ’60s? Many folks remember that movie about free love, "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice." In truth, "free love" never really existed, even back then. But that’s irrelevant. Polyamory isn’t free love. All these different flavors of polyamory have their own dynamic, but ultimately, they are all about building relationships, not about sex.

Okay, so they are about sex as well. After all, most romantic relationships do involve sex, and poly is about romantic relationships. (Not for everybody, of course. There are folks who have romantic relationships without sex. But often, for many of us, romance does include some element of sex.) But the point is, it isn’t just the sex. And the idea of polyamory predates the ’60s, anyway. In fact, it’s at least as old as human history. Examples of non-monogamous relationships can be found in many places at any time throughout history.

Glossary of Polyamory Terms

NBC: What Open Relationships Have to Offer

I Am in a Polyamorous Relationship

8 Signs Polyamory is Right for You

Psychology Today: 7 Forms of Non-Monogamy

Willow Smith: Explains Why She Prefers Polyamory Relationships

Bustle: Poly Terms You Should Know
More Than Two: Poly Glossary

Isn’t this all some sexist, misogynistic, male-dominated Fundamentalist Mormon thing? No. The image that many people have in their heads, of one man with many women (as in the HBO series, "Big Love") is technically “polygyny.” Polygyny (from the Greek poly meaning many + gynos meaning woman) is the form of polygamy where a man can have more than one female partner, but women are not allowed to have more than one male partner.

In societies where polygyny is practiced, women are usually seen as little more than property. Since people have this mistaken notion of polyamory, it’s easy to understand why they think “polyamory” means “disrespect of women.”

But polyamory is not polygyny. Polyamory applies equally to everybody. In an ethical polyamorous relationship, the same opportunities are afforded to everyone, regardless of their sex. Polyamory is not about collecting a bunch of women for your harem. Polyamory is about sharing some part of your life and sharing your love with more than one other person, and your lovers sharing some part of THEIR lives and some part of THEIR love with more than one other person.

[Source: More Than Two]

Poly Coach: Non-Monogamy and Open Relationships

Willow Smith Opens Up About Being Polyamorous

Video Discussion: What About Polyamory?

More Than Two: Polyamory FAQ

Meet a Polyamorous Thrupple

Info: Monogamy

Lisa Ling: Spotlight on Young Polygamist Family

Polyamory vs. Polygamy

Do you think there is no difference between polyamory and polygamy? Think again and discover the difference.

In the world of relationships, the terms polyamory and polygamy may sound similar, but in actual fact there are several key differences between the two that people need to be aware of. What follows are some of the main ones and the hope is that by the end of it you will have a far better understanding about not only the terms, but also the lifestyles associated with the terms. Hopefully by the end of it you will see that.

First, the term polygamy basically means "many marriages" but it can also relate to having a number of relationships where there is a sense of having some kind of spousal commitment to a number of people at the one time.

Wikipedia: Polyamory

Meet a Polyamorous Thrupple

Reasons To Try Dating A Couple

Showtime Series: Polyamory

Interview with Polyamorous Thrupple

Research: Health and Wellness of Consensual Non-Monogamy

Types of Polyamory

What Open Relationships Have to Offer

Questions People In Polyamorous Relationships Are Sick Of Hearing

Three Way Relationship: Beautiful Thing

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

Glossary of Polyamory Terms

I Am in a Polyamorous Relationship

Info: Monogamy

This is a term that is perhaps used most when people are talking about the Mormon faith or Islam where a man is able to have a number of wives at any given time and it is this aspect of a number of marriages that makes it different to polyamory. In both of these religions there will, therefore, be religious doctrine that discusses it in detail whereas with polyamory this is certainly not the case.

The term polyamory instead means "many loves" and the relationship aspect in this type of lifestyle does not mean that marriage exists, but instead the person has some form of a serious relationship with a number of people at the one time. This can, therefore, mean that they may date one person while living with another, but there is no sense of any formal certificates or paperwork that show they are in some kind of a serious relationship with anybody. It is also worth pointing out that while polygamy is often linked to religion, the same cannot be said about polyamory.

What's the Difference: Polyamory and Polygamy

Polygamy, Polyamory, Polygyny, Polyandry, and More

Video Chat: Polyamory Questions and Answers

More Than Two: Learning the Poly Lingo

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

Interview: Perfect Polyamorous Relationship

Jessica O'Reilly TED Talk: Monogamish and New Rules of Marriage

Three Way Relationship: Beautiful Thing

Poly Coach: Non-Monogamy and Open Relationships

Willow Smith Opens Up About Being Polyamorous

Another difference between the two is that polygamy does tend to only refer to the act of a man having more than one wife and it is, therefore, based on gender. Polyamory is open to any mixture of numbers and genders so it is just as common for a man to be in a relationship with several women as it is for a woman to be in love with several men. It should also be pointed out that polyamory can of course involve people of the same sex as well whereas this won't be possible with polygamy due to its strong links to religion and culture.

It is also generally true that polygamy has a tendency to last longer like normal marriages, but with polyamory it is more about the moment and living in it and this means it may last for weeks, months or even years depending on the people involved which is similar to swinger couples or open relationships. The term "till death do us part" certainly only applies to one and over a lifetime the person involved in a polyamorous relationship can have a number of partners whereas the polygamist tends to be limited to only a few.

Video: What it's Like to Have an Open Relationship

Willow Smith: Explains Why She Prefers Polyamory Relationships

What Happens at a Swinger Sex Party?

Video: Should You Be Polyamorous?

Polyamory Society

More Than Two: Polyamory Myths

15 Honest Reasons Couples Choose to be Polyamorous

Finally, it has to be said that people do tend to have the point of view that there are cultural differences between the two, but in actual fact this is not actually the case. However, how both approaches are viewed can be different. It is perhaps true that in certain cultures and countries the idea of having more than one wife would not cause a stir and indeed it is common practice, but the idea of having more than one relationship is one that may indeed be frowned upon. There is also the idea that even in countries or cultures where polygamy is not allowed that there is a better understanding of it whereas the same cannot be said about multiple relationships at the one time.

So those are the key differences between polyamory and polygamy and you should know see that they are not as similar as you may have initially thought and indeed those that practice either of them would certainly agree that they have entirely different approaches to life. However, it is fair to say that a number of people will still have the same negative opinion about both lifestyles, but due to now having a better understanding of the two maybe you will be able to accept why some people do indeed wish to live this type of lifestyle.

[Source: Your Tango]

8 Signs Polyamory is Right for You

Psychology Today: 7 Forms of Non-Monogamy

Video: Should You Be Polyamorous?

Interview: Perfect Polyamorous Relationship

Polyamory Society

Meet the Married Polyamorous Throuple

Lisa Ling: Spotlight on Young Polygamist Family

Willow Smith: Explains Why She Prefers Polyamory Relationships

More Than Two: Polyamory Myths

15 Honest Reasons Couples Choose to be Polyamorous

What is Hotwifing?

Hotwifing is the modern fetish term for wife-sharing. A hotwife is a married woman who has sexual relationships outside of her marriage, with the full knowledge and consent of her husband, who himself doesn’t have affairs. Wife-sharing arrangement or act of carrying out such affairs. The idea of hotwifing comes from the concept of a husband showing off and sharing his “hot wife.” The non-monogamous arrangement is related to a cuckolding fetish, and many (but not all) husbands in such a relationship refer to themselves as cuckolds or hot-wifers.

The difference between hotwifing and cheating is consent. In a hotwife arrangement, the husband is fully aware and supportive of his wife’s affairs. In many cases, one spouse or the other even gains sexual arousal from the arrangement due to voyeurism, the thrill of doing something taboo, or an infidelity and/or jealousy fetish. Hotwifing isn’t exactly swinging because only one partner is having extramarital sex. One of the most important aspects though is that both partners are open and trusting with each other. It only works if both partners are mutually onboard.

Obscure Words for Infidelity

Definition and Description of a Fling

Info: Monogamy

Gay Men in Open Relationships

Different Types of Affairs

Info: My Spouse is Gay

Cuckhold or Adulteress

Lesbian Couples and Emotional Cheating

Info: On the Downlow

What is an Orgy?

Originally, an orgy was a secret ceremonial rite held in honor of an ancient Greek (Dionysus) or Roman (Bacchus) deity and usually characterized by ecstatic singing and dancing. In general, it can be defined as drunken revelry or a sexual encounter involving many people or excessive sexual indulgence.

In modern usage, an orgy is a sex party where guests freely engage in open and unrestrained sexual activity or group sex.

Swingers' parties do not always conform to this designation, because at many swinger parties the sexual partners may all know each other or at least have some commonality among economic class, educational attainment or other shared attributes. Some swingers contend that an orgy, as opposed to a sex party, requires some anonymity of sexual partners in complete sexual abandon. Other kinds of "sex parties" may fare less well with this labeling.

Participation in an "orgy" is a common sexual fantasy, and group sex targeting such consumers is a subgenre in pornographic films. Similar activities include group sex, harems, gang bangs, bukkake, bacchanalia, and bdsm.

Wikipedia: Orgy

Orgy Rules: Do's and Don'ts

What Happens at a Swinger Sex Party?

Group Sex: An Etiquette Guide

Wikipedia: Gang Bang

A gang bang is a situation in which several people engage in physical sexual activity with one specific individual sequentially or at the same time. That specific individual is the central focus of the sexual activity. For example, it could be one woman surrounded by several men or a man with multiple women. Rather than serial couplings by two people, the gang bang is defined by the number and simultaneity of the various sex acts, such as vaginal, anal or oral sex or double penetration or triple penetration.

The largest gang bangs are sponsored by pornographic film companies, and recorded, but a gang bang is not unusual in the swinger community. It is more often considered to have multiple men and one woman, while a so-called "reverse gang bang" (one man and many women), which can be seen in pornography. Male-on-male and female-on-female gang bangs also happen. Gang bangs are not defined by the precise number of participants, but usually involve more than three people and may involve a dozen or more.

By contrast, three people engaged in sex is normally referred to as a threesome, and four people are normally referred to as a foursome. Gang bangs also differ from group sex, such as threesomes and foursomes, in that most (if not all) sexual acts during a gang bang are centered on or performed with just the central person.

Wikipedia: Polyamory

Meet a Polyamorous Thrupple

Reasons To Try Dating A Couple

Showtime Series: Polyamory

Interview with Polyamorous Thrupple

Research: Health and Wellness of Consensual Non-Monogamy

Types of Polyamory

What Open Relationships Have to Offer

Three Way Relationship: Beautiful Thing

Willow Smith Reveals That She is Polyamorous

Glossary of Polyamory Terms

I Am in a Polyamorous Relationship

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