Poly Plotlines: Narratives of Ethical Non-Monogamy in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Much of the literature on polyamory is situated in the field of family studies, psychology and gender studies. These studies typically focus on describing the individual experiences of polyamorous relationships without broadly situating the practice in broader social and cultural contexts. This thesis instead, examines polyamory through the sociology of love and intimacy, the anthropology of kinship and the sociology of sexual deviance. It contextualizes why more people are exploring polyamory and other forms of consensual non-monogamies (CNMs). Drawing on interviews with polyamorous folks designed to illicit their biographical ‘sexual’ stories, I shed light on how poly folks create and give meaning to their relationship practice, particularly through their early explorations of polyamory. It explores how poly folks’ relationship(s) function within the limitations of monogamous institutions and values. Additionally, it explores the tensions that arise within the polyamorous community as the practice becomes more mainstream in North American society.