Couple Culture and the Effects on the Discourse of Non-Monogamous Relationships: Media Threatening the Legitimacy of Polyamory
By Allyson Fry (Rutgers Undergrad Student)
Introduction to Media Influence and Polyamory
Presently, society is becoming increasingly malleable to the whim of the media. Outside of the seemingly legitimate information sources like the news, people are being influenced by popular culture via movies, television and advertisements. These three elements when aligned can propagate a multitude of messages. One overpowering concept that circulates through society is the idea of coupledom: the belief that the end goal for every average human should be to pair off into monogamous marriages and reproduce. This idea stems from …show more content…
But as Budgeon argues, “What remains hidden by its presumed naturalness is the extent to which institutionalized heterosexuality maintains a ‘pervasive cluster of forces, ranging from physical brutality to control of consciousness’ (1999) in the name of perpetuating patriarchy” (Budgeon 305). If monogamous marriage is natural, it should not have to be constantly and forcefully reinforced. The façade of the naturalness of heterosexual monogamy blinds society to an overreaching desire for patriarchy to be perpetuated. Without the institution of marriage, the concept of patriarchy crumbles. Thus, the idea of polyamorous relationships does not truly threaten monogamy because it does not delegitimize those who engage in committed relationships with one other person. Polyamory truly threatens patriarchy by challenging the limitations involved in legal marriage. If marriage as a legal institution were to be repealed and replaced with a contract of responsibility to a household, monogamy would continue to be practiced, but the patriarchal ideals present in the current definition of marriage would be lost. Thus, patriarchal societies rely on law and media to continue the circulation of the normalcy of monogamous
By Allyson Fry (Rutgers Undergrad Student)
Introduction to Media Influence and Polyamory
Presently, society is becoming increasingly malleable to the whim of the media. Outside of the seemingly legitimate information sources like the news, people are being influenced by popular culture via movies, television and advertisements. These three elements when aligned can propagate a multitude of messages. One overpowering concept that circulates through society is the idea of coupledom: the belief that the end goal for every average human should be to pair off into monogamous marriages and reproduce. This idea stems from …show more content…
But as Budgeon argues, “What remains hidden by its presumed naturalness is the extent to which institutionalized heterosexuality maintains a ‘pervasive cluster of forces, ranging from physical brutality to control of consciousness’ (1999) in the name of perpetuating patriarchy” (Budgeon 305). If monogamous marriage is natural, it should not have to be constantly and forcefully reinforced. The façade of the naturalness of heterosexual monogamy blinds society to an overreaching desire for patriarchy to be perpetuated. Without the institution of marriage, the concept of patriarchy crumbles. Thus, the idea of polyamorous relationships does not truly threaten monogamy because it does not delegitimize those who engage in committed relationships with one other person. Polyamory truly threatens patriarchy by challenging the limitations involved in legal marriage. If marriage as a legal institution were to be repealed and replaced with a contract of responsibility to a household, monogamy would continue to be practiced, but the patriarchal ideals present in the current definition of marriage would be lost. Thus, patriarchal societies rely on law and media to continue the circulation of the normalcy of monogamous