Fascinating and especially robust analysis. As far as I can tell, most of the articles and studies relating to polyamory tend to focus on young people, generally without children. Who has children and what parenting looks like in polyamorous relationships seems very complicated. Who has parental rights and responsibilities? What happens when new partners come and go? Whose grandparents are involved? Likewise, polyamory among older people is almost never mentioned. A growing proportion of divorces today are among older (50+) couple, usually initiated by women. Is polyamory increasing as well? What does polyamory look like when members get ill, can no longer engage in certain forms of sex or simply lose interest? As unpartnered group living increases, would that give rise to more expanded forms of polyamory? By 70, the proportion of women to men begins to change rapidly. What if any impact does that have?
Many older couples today, usually involving divorced or widowed individuals, prefer the living alone together form of relationship if finances allow. I could see that as potentially increasing the potential for polyamory although it also may ease the stress of monogamy.
Fantastic post! Even poly me learned several things, which makes sense as I've only been in the scene for half as long as you. Thanks for teaching us young'uns :)
Thank you! I get the sense that you're deeper in the Bay poly culture than I ever was X'D.
I think there's a lot of types of nonmonogamy though. Some people consider having exes who are important friends to be nonmonogamy, and like...that's table stakes for me. \o/
Feel free to shoot me opinions/insights for a follow up! (which I will definitely do based on the amount of feedback I'm getting from this)
Fascinating and especially robust analysis. As far as I can tell, most of the articles and studies relating to polyamory tend to focus on young people, generally without children. Who has children and what parenting looks like in polyamorous relationships seems very complicated. Who has parental rights and responsibilities? What happens when new partners come and go? Whose grandparents are involved? Likewise, polyamory among older people is almost never mentioned. A growing proportion of divorces today are among older (50+) couple, usually initiated by women. Is polyamory increasing as well? What does polyamory look like when members get ill, can no longer engage in certain forms of sex or simply lose interest? As unpartnered group living increases, would that give rise to more expanded forms of polyamory? By 70, the proportion of women to men begins to change rapidly. What if any impact does that have?
Many older couples today, usually involving divorced or widowed individuals, prefer the living alone together form of relationship if finances allow. I could see that as potentially increasing the potential for polyamory although it also may ease the stress of monogamy.
Thanks again for this thought-provoking piece.
Fantastic post! Even poly me learned several things, which makes sense as I've only been in the scene for half as long as you. Thanks for teaching us young'uns :)
Thank you! I get the sense that you're deeper in the Bay poly culture than I ever was X'D.
I think there's a lot of types of nonmonogamy though. Some people consider having exes who are important friends to be nonmonogamy, and like...that's table stakes for me. \o/
Feel free to shoot me opinions/insights for a follow up! (which I will definitely do based on the amount of feedback I'm getting from this)