Polyamory

While it is widely acknowledged that we can love more than one person at the same time in case of, e.g., parental love or friendships, the prevailing view of romantic love restricts such love to an exclusive relationship between only two people. However, romantic monogamy is not without alternatives. The chapter focuses on probably the most famous option: polyamory, the idea and practice of consensual romantic relationships with two or more persons at the same time—also referred to as ethical non-monogamy or ethical polyamory to emphasize the (autonomous) consent of everyone involved. The chapter starts with clarifying the concept of polyamory and then provides a historical overview of polyamory as a social movement, developed as an ethical practice by lifestyle avant-gardes in modern Western societies (esp. the USA and Germany). Next, the chapter engages in a discussion of the most pertinent ethical aspects and challenges of polyamory, including topics such as (autonomous) consent, trust, justice, jealousy, and compersion. Finally, the chapter provides a feminist assessment of polyamory’s anti-patriarchal implications and potential for social change. The chapter’s methodology consists in critically engaging with academic literature (mostly philosophical and sociological), accompanied by insights from years of counseling practice on polyamory.