the problem with polynormativity
Polyamory is getting a lot of airtime in the media these days. It’s quite remarkable, really, and it represents a major shift over the last five to ten years.
The problem—and it’s hardly surprising—is that the form of poly that’s getting by far the most airtime is the one that’s as similar to traditional monogamy as possible, because that’s the least threatening to the dominant social order.
This is long and thoughtful post on the problem with the mainstream culture "embracing" poly, to sanitize it by making it be hierarchical, white, straight and privileged. Dont believe it, the edge is far from what is comfortable for Babylon, for it inherently threatens its underlying oppressions.
Thanks Angie for the reference.
This was a great post–be sure and read the comments.
It’s been hard for me watching the funky and provocative gay lib of the 70s be reduced to same sex marriage and gays in the military. It’s a shame to see something similar happening to polyamory. It’s good to see people pushing the edge, pushing past heteronormativity and polynormativity.
Mark Twain reported while visiting Hawaii that Christian tracts as well as tracts on polyamory were to be found in abundance wherever he was at.
It seems possible to me that both stances were useful in destroying the traditional cultures that were present on the islands.