What do we know about consensual non-monogamy

Recent years have seen considerable interest in consensual non-monogamy from both public and academic perspectives. At least 5% of the North American population is currently in a consensually non-monogamous relationship of some form and there is little difference in measures of relationship quality compared to monogamous relationships. Despite increasing levels of understanding and engagement many practitioners of consensual non-monogamy still experience stigma (and minority stress) which is exacerbated by context (e.g. parenting, healthcare settings), type of consensual non-monogamy (e.g. polyamory vs swinging) and intersects with other identities (e.g. race, sexuality). This review outlines what is currently understood about consensual non-monogamy and argues that relationship diversity has a place alongside gender and sexuality when studying sexual behaviours, romantic relationships, and well-being

Young men’s friendships: inclusive masculinities in a post-university setting

When Eric Anderson published inclusive masculinity theory (IMT), it was largely situated in relationships he observed with first-year undergraduate students. Here, he noticed a striking difference in behaviours and attitudes between the adolescent heterosexual men in the United States, compared to those in the UK. Since IMT’s inception, there has been a great deal of further enquiry into the social lives of young heterosexual men in both of these nations. What is undertheorized, however, is whether the intense emotional and physical tactility of homosocial relationships described in this literature will occur with current and future generations. Nor do we know if men described as exhibiting inclusive masculinities at university continue to do so – and to what degree – as they enter the workplace and develop family ties. This research utilizes 10 semi-structured interviews with the same participants from Anderson’s initial studies, showing that they continue to strive for the same emotional intimacy with male friends that they achieved during their time at university. Half also carried this behaviour into the friendships developed with other men since graduating from university. Thus, this research contributes to IMT as it offers preliminary analysis into the friendships of inclusive men, after their time at university

“I think it takes balls, girl balls, to challenge those stereotypes”: Women’s perceptions of board game culture

Despite growing sociocultural interest in, and engagement with, tabletop hobby games, and in particular board games, the surrounding culture(s) remain underexamined. Drawing from 43 semi-structured interviews this article explores board gaming culture from the perspective of women who play modern board games. The findings highlight women’s experiences as a minority and the difficulties they face when entering board games spaces—often perceived as ‘male spaces’ and associated with geek masculinity. The findings also show a 'gender-gap' in board games, where women’s reduced levels of experience, awareness, and integration into board game culture act as a barrier to their participation and negatively impact their sense of belonging. Despite these barriers, the presence and experience of other women helped to deconstruct the notion that board games were solely for men. Furthermore, the findings also show how men and women are actively constructing newer, more inclusive board games cultures which eschew exclusion and challenge board game’s associations with geek masculinity. This research provides insight into some of the barriers to entry women face as well as the changing nature of contemporary board game culture

Metropolitan Bisexual Men’s Relationships: Evidence of a Cohort Effect.

Drawing on 90 interviews with openly bisexual men from three metropolitan cities, this research explores experiences related to relationships. In using a comparative cohort research design, the authors demonstrate the presence of a generational effect, with members of the youngest cohort finding that their partners grant the greatest legitimacy to their bisexual identities. The authors also show that men of the older cohort maintained more heteronormative attitudes than men in the younger cohort, particularly concerning marriage and children. Finally, the authors find that though openly bisexual men located in three metropolitan cities were accepting of nonmonogamy for others, they were not largely practicing it themselves

Inclusive Masculinity and Facebook Photographs Among Early Emerging Adults at a British University

Central to debates about the construction of masculinity in sociology is the influence of culture and what constitutes acceptable displays of masculinity. This article adopts a novel approach in examining this question. It adopts a summative content analysis, combined with a semiotic analysis, of 1,100 Facebook photographs, in order to explore the underlying meanings within the photos and the performances of masculinity. Facebook photographs from 44, straight, White, male, early emerging adults attending the same university are used as a representation of an individual’s ideal self. These are then analyzed in order to determine the behaviors endorsed by peer culture. It was found that the sample overwhelmingly adopted inclusive behaviors (including homosocial tactility, dancing, and kissing each other), and inclusive masculinity theory was utilized to contextualize participants’ constructions of masculinity. Thus, this research shows that emerging adult males at this university construct their masculine identities away from previous orthodox archetypes. It is argued that the reducing importance of gendered behavior patterns may represent an adoption of what are perceived as wider cultural norms and act as a symbol of adulthood to these early emerging adults

‘I don’t mind watching him cum’: Heterosexual men, threesomes, and the erosion of the one-time rule of homosexuality

In this qualitative research, conducted on 30 gay-friendly, heterosexual, undergraduate men, we examine actual and hypothetical experiences of sexual threesomes, both with two women and one man (FFM), and two men and one woman (MMF). We show a cultural willingness for heterosexual men to engage in not only FFM threesomes, but also MMF threesomes. A year and a half into their university experience, seven of our participants had had at least one FFM threesome, and five of our participants had had at least one MMF threesome. We argue that this threesome experience is a component of cultural progression toward a more liberal, recreational culture of sexuality that encourages play and experimentation instead of a procreative model of sexuality. Thus, this research contributes to the growing body of literature showing that the cultural boundaries of heterosexuality are rapidly expanding for males, permitting more same-sex sexual contact without triggering the one-time-rule of homosexuality

‘If there is no homo, there is no trio’: Women’s experiences and expectations of MMF threesomes

Although contemporary research into threesomes is expanding, little is yet understood about women’s perspective on threesomes involving two men and one woman (MMF)—the generally more stigmatised configuration of mixed-sex threesome. Using semi-structured interviews with 16 women who had ever engaged in a mixed-sex threesome, this research aimed to explore women’s attitudes and experiences of MMF threesomes and understand their (dis)interest in them. The findings suggest that, although MMF threesomes were somewhat stigmatised by participants, more were interested in them than not. Core to women’s (perceived) enjoyment of these threesomes was the desire to engage with men who would interact sexually with each other. This helped to create a safer, less objectifying environment, as well as providing sexual arousal for some women. Accordingly, it is suggesting that the stigma around MMF threesomes is diminishing, and in this context, women are enacting their sexual agency to pursue the sorts of sex they desire