Open relationship

The Purple Mobius symbol for Polyamory, non-monogamy, and LGBTQ.
The "love outside the box" symbol for Polyamory, non-monogamy, and LGBTQ.

An open relationship is a committed relationship in which either or both partners consent to the other partner being free to have emotional and/or physical relationships with others, often within mutually agreed limits. If a couple in an open relationship are married, it can be called an open marriage.

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[edit] Types of open relationships

  • Some relationships place strict restrictions on partners (e.g. polyfidelity); such relationships are polyamorous, but not open.
  • Some relationships permit sex outside the primary relationship, but not love (e.g. swinging); such relationships are sexually non-monogamous but not polyamorous or open.
  • Some polyamorists do not accept the dichotomies of "in a relationship/not in a relationship" and "partners/not partners"; without these divisions, it is meaningless to class a relationship as 'open' and 'closed'.
  • Some polyamorists consider 'polyamory' to be their philosophical orientation – they believe themselves capable and desirous of multiple loves – whereas 'open relationship' is used as a logistical description: that is, it is how their polyamory is expressed or implemented. They would say of themselves, for instance, "I am polyamorous; my primary partner and I have an open relationship (with the following ground rules)...."
  • Some relationships are usually a long-distance relationship where the couple still want to be together, but one or both of them also wants to see other people.
  • Some people occasionally use an Open Relationship to test their partner.
  • It can also be a relationship without sex.

[edit] Polyamory

While "closed relationship" is sometimes used as a synonym for "polyamory" or "polyamorous relationship", these terms are generally differentiated. The "open" in "open relationship" usually refers to the sexual aspect of a non-closed relationship, whereas "polyamory" refers to the extension of a relationship by allowing bonds to form (which may be sexual or otherwise) as additional long term relationships. However, there is enough overlap between the two concepts that 'open relationship' is sometimes used as a catch-all substitute when speaking to people who may not be familiar with 'polyamory'.

[edit] Open relationships in popular culture

Comedian Monique Imes, also known as Mo'Nique, has an open marriage with her husband Sidney Hicks.

[edit] References to open relationships in the media

[edit] Articles

[edit] Books

[edit] See also

[edit] External links





Related topics in the Connexions Subject Index

Alternative Lifestyles Alternative Sexual Lifestyles Free Love Group Marriage Lifestyle Alternatives Marriage/Sexually-Open Monogamy Non-monogamy Open Marriage Open Relationships Polyamory Polyfidelity Polygamy Swingers


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