The Fluidity of Human Intimacy: a Look at Relationship Orientation and Identity with a Focus on Polyamory" (2014)

Home , Femme, Polyamory, Sexual orientation

Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass

Undergraduate Research Posters Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

2014 The luiditF y of Human Intimacy: A Look at Relationship Orientation and Identity with a Focus on Polyamory Briana Spangler Virginia Commonwealth University

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This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Research Posters by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Fluidity of Human Intimacy: A Look at Relationship Orientation and Identity with a Focus on Polyamory Briana M. Spangler, Dr. Elizabeth A Kreydatus

Abstract Conclusion

Polyamory (or “Poly”) is an alternative way that people conduct their The most challenging aspect of this project was a lack of research on relationships. My research was aimed at discovering what role this subject. Research is focused on the template of monogamous relationship structure has to an individual’s identity. In this relationship, leaving a vast void of information and available presentation, identity is defined as characteristics, beliefs and resources that subject alternative relationship structures. Even though behaviors that make up a person’s self-image. To answer this most define their relationship as monogamous, research should be question, I conducted a small case study involving personal conducted to include people in alternative relationships just as it interviews to find out how personal relationship structure played a should include nonheterosexuals into scholarly research. Not only do role to their individual identities, particularly in the case of these identity characteristics exist, but they matter. Though I focused Polyamorous relationships. According to my findings, it seems that specifically on polyamory and identity, the same arguments could be relationship structure has its own orientation, separate from sexual applied to any relationship structure. There is no single sexuality, or gender orientation. The importance of this orientation varies on gender, or relationship structure that applies universally. personal opinion from individual to individual, but that does not make relationship orientation insignificant because it still exists as a characteristic of a person’s identity. References

Methods for Case Study Barker, M. (2005). This is my partner, and this is my… partner's partner: Constructing a polyamorous identity in a monogamous world . Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 18(1), 75-88. doi: 10.1080/10720530590523107

Blue. (2014, March 23). Email Interview. ♥ Qualitative interviews that touched on these topics: ♥ Gender and Sexual Orientation ♥ Relationship Structure E. (2014, March 24). Email Interview. ♥ Do you think your relationship structure is an aspect of your identity? ♥ Does your relationship structure influence how you view relationships in general? ♥ What is the significance of polyamory or monogamy in your daily life? Klesse, C. (2014). Polyamory: Intimate practice, identity or sexual orientation?. Sexualities, 17, 81-99. doi: ♥ Why do you practice Polyamory or Monogamy? 10.1177/1363460713511096 ♥ Is your relationship structure compatible with you as an individual? ♥ Are we “wired” toward a certain type of relationship structure? L. D. (2014, March 25). Email Interview. ♥ Participants: ♥ Ryan (Heterosexual Male, Married, Monogamous—was Polyamorous before marriage) ♥ E (Queer Femme, Married, Polyamorous) Q., D. (2011, February 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.scatmania.org/about/polyamory/ ♥ L.D. (Pansexual Cis-Male, Married, Polyamorous) ♥ Blue (Lesbian Female, Married, Polyamorous & Panromantic) Robinson, M. (2011). Polyamory and monogamy as strategic identities. Journal of Bisexuality, 13(1), 21-38. doi:

10.1080/15299716.2013.755731

Ryan. (2014, March 23). Email Interview. Results/Discussion

♥ Those who identified as Polyamorous admitted that while they could be in a monogamous relationship they would feel confined and unhappy. Orientations, whether on the topic of personal or interpersonal circumstances, seem to rely heavily on what makes the person Acknowledgements happy with their self-image, and perhaps it is what makes the individual feel honest with who they really are.

♥ Components of our identity impact our view of the world. All of my polyamorous ♥ First I would like to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to participate in the participants had a view of relationships (both monogamous and polyamorous) that consisted interviews that contributed to my research for this project. Ryan, E., L.D., and Blue not only contributed of core philosophies regarding polyamory. to my research by telling me their stories, they have also further educated my understanding and reinforced my passion about this subject and have opened new perspectives and understandings about identity, sexuality, relationships, and nonmonogamy. ♥ A vast variety of relationships structures exists and therefore deserve its own sect for

classification and should be held as a significant characteristic of identity. ♥ Next, I would like to thank Dr. Kreydatus for encouraging me to try a presentation I’ve never done before and assist me with tackling a very complicated and challenging topic. She offered me advice and ♥ The “Coming Out” stories and struggles against discrimination for people who follow a suggestions for organizing my topics and offered new perspectives and questions that aided me in polyamorous lifestyle are similar to coming out experiences for sexual orientation. presenting this research.

♥ Some participants believe they are “wired” to be polyamorous. Others were unsure, but commented on the various ways polyamory was appropriate to their lifestyle. Regardless of whether orientations are rooted in biology or are a significant part one’s lifestyle, they are still aspects of who a person is and thus orientations are valid and significant.