Open relationship

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An open relationship or partnership refers to a relationship (usually between two people) in which the parties involved knowingly have the freedom to have other partners, particularly sexual partners . If a couple who have entered into an open relationship are married, it is an open marriage . Open relationships expand the concept of self-determination by individuals to include sexual self-determination within a relationship and thus conflict with conventional expectations of relationships and morals . In this respect, conflicts can also arise within a relationship if there are different expectations.

history

Nena and George O'Neill published Open Marriage in 1972 . For the first time in the United States, this led to public television discussions about alternative lifestyles. This is seen as one of the significant events of the 20th century that contributed to the tension between two different views of life: one sees sexual relationships only legitimized in a stable partnership and as a necessary component for mutual happiness. The other sees sex as an important experience and an independent development opportunity for the individual. The attempt to reconcile these two views can be seen as a fundamental dynamic for the change in sexual behavior in the USA in the 20th century and led to a public discussion about alternative ways of life. In the course of the sexual revolution , the concept of an open relationship was also discussed in other countries and was seen as an important step towards the liberation of people propagated by left-libertarian circles.

Open relationship versus polyamory

Open relationship is sometimes used as a synonym for polyamory or polyamorous relationship, but there is a difference in the definition of the two terms: The openness in an open relationship primarily describes the sexual aspect of a non-exclusive relationship; Polyamory, on the other hand, allows several bonds (sexual or emotional) to be formed that lead to long-term relationships:

  • Some partners agree on relationships that allow sharing of sexuality outside of the main relationship, but not sharing wider feelings, e.g. B. Swinger ; such relationships are open, but not polyamorous.
  • Some partners impose strict restrictions in their relationships on which additional partners (often from a small group) are allowed and which are not (often referred to as polyfidelity ); these relationships are polyamorous but not open.
  • Some people who practice polyamory reject the dichotomy of “being in a relationship / not being in a relationship” or “being / not being a partner” - without this distinction there is no point in describing a relationship as 'open' or 'closed' 'to classify.
  • Some people consider 'polyamory' to be their ideal orientation - they consider themselves able and willing to have multiple love relationships, while using open relationship as a description of how they live and achieve polyamory. You would say to yourself, “I am polyamorous. My main partner and I have an open relationship with the following rules ... "

Overall, the two terms overlap; therefore, people who are not familiar with the term 'polyamory' often use the phrase 'open relationship' instead of the term 'polyamory'.

See also

literature

Non-fiction

  • Nena O'Neill: Open Marriage: A New Life Style for Couples , M. Evans, 1984, ISBN 0-87131-438-X (first published in 1972).
  • Oliver Schott: Praise the open relationship. About love, sex, reason and happiness , Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-86505-704-4 .
  • Marriage and Morals (Engl. Marriage and Morals ), 1929 by Bertrand Russell wrote, describes based on a profound analysis of the processes and influences that led to the family structures of the 19th century, the future of family relationships due to the onset of social changes. In it Russel advocates renouncing monogamy as a moral concept and giving priority to self-determination within partnerships and marriages.
  • The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (originally using the pen name Catherine A. Liszt), Greenery Press, 1998, ISBN 1-890159-01-8 . The second edition of the book was published in 2009 under the title Ethical Slut: A Roadmap for Relationship Pioneers . Celestial Arts, ISBN 1-58761-337-9 . Published in German: * Schlampen mit Moral: a practical guide to polyamory, open relationships and other adventures by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (originally under the pseudonym Catherine A. Liszt), Munich: mvg-Verlag, ISBN 9783868825084 .
  • Redefining our Relationships , Wendy-O Matik, Defiant Times Press 2002, ISBN 978-1-58790-015-0 .
  • More than love: polyamorous relationships , edited by Laura Méritt , Traude Bührmann and Nadja Boris Schefzig, describe their experiences ( Orlanda Frauenverlag , Berlin 2005).
  • Celeste West's Lesbian Polyfidelity describes, in addition to - largely independent of sexual orientation - emotional aspects such as dealing with jealousy and setting appropriate boundaries, many practical aspects such as time management by renouncing the insignificant, children in non-monogamous relationships or the hopelessness of Don ' t Ask - Don't Tell relationships.

Biographies and reports

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Nena O'Neill: Open Marriage: A New Life Style for Couples , M. Evans, 1984, ISBN 0-87131-438-X (first published in 1972)
  2. ↑ https://www.derwesten.de/incoming/eine-offene-haben-haelt-die-liebe-frisch-id578813.html
  3. ^ The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality: United States of America , Robert T. Francoeur, 1997.
  4. ^ The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (originally under the pseudonym Catherine A. Liszt), Greenery Press, 1998, ISBN 1-890159-01-8 .