What Is Monogamy? How Relevant Is It As Designer Relationships Are On The Horizon?

What is monogamy, and is infidelity an attraction for other people, a default in the wiring, deficiency in marriage, or merely a predictable response of a non-monogamous primate? 

Today, when backup boyfriends are a thing and designer relationships are the new cool (you can find a definition of designer relationships here) is ‘monogamy’ extinct or on the verge of extinction?

If so, then what does a ‘marriage’ mean in this new age of love and companionship? Also, if monogamy is dead then why does ‘infidelity’ destroy so many people, relationships, and families?

Nevertheless, infidelity or betrayal in any form has also always been fused with these stories. It has presented itself through not just art, history, and mythology, but also through movies, politics, and economics!

What is monogamy? What do marriage, monogamy, infidelity mean today?

What is marriage? What is monogamy? What is infidelity? What are these institutions that seem to have paramount importance in society, but are the least talked about?

Is monogamy a secret agency that recruits people and promises a lifetime partner, whom you can annoy? Is marriage a union of two souls that legalizes sex? And, is infidelity an attraction for other people, a default in the wiring, deficiency in marriage, or merely a predictable response of a non-monogamous primate?

All these institutions have evolved with time. Their definitions too have changed over the period. From what I have read, researched, and believed, here’s my take on it through the lens of a writer. and a human behaviour enthusiast –

Never miss real stories from India's women.

Register Now

They say, “Life is short, have an affair.” Well sometimes, even I feel that polyamorous relationships are much more pragmatic. They benefit us as humans. Whether it is the satisfaction of the sexual urges or having multiple social, political, and financial alliances, the perks can work wonders.

Be that as it may, I agree to disagree. I signed up for a monogamous relationship long back, and vowed for the romantic idea of exclusivity.

Marriages began as economic enterprises; infidelity was a threat to this economy

Monogamy is relatively recent. In tandem with sedentary agriculture, the emergence of large-scale industrialization, hoarding of property, and improved health care, polygamous society transformed into a monogamous one!

The (so-called) evolved humans might have chosen monogamy over polygamy to protect their genes. I see it as a decision that we (might) regret. Later, through the cableway of human brains, the concept of marriage must have been deduced. Definitely something that most people regret but preach anyway.

Formerly, marriages were an economic enterprise. Daughters were traded for cows. They were given away to landowners in marriage who could take care of them. Needless to say, daughters were seen as burdens even in olden times. Marriages were more like a contract shaped by the patriarchal society to maintain the chastity of a woman and derive benefits from it.

Adultery or infidelity, then, was a place where people sought for love and emotional connection. Thus, back then, infidelity was a threat to financial security.

Marriages today as romantic agreements and infidelity as a threat to emotional security

Marriage today is often governed by the idea of people in love wanting to stay together for the rest of their lives. So, infidelity now threatens our emotional security and destroys us.

Today, we expect our partner or ‘the one’ to be our closest confidante, our BFF, a great lover, a caring parent, an intellectual equal, and a partner in everything! When these expectations are met, we believe that we are the special someone; the ‘soulmate’.

So, infidelity shakes the whole system of this belief. It tells us otherwise, that we are replaceable. It is thus an ultimate betrayal and threatens our sense of self!

From monogamy to procreate, to affairs to be happy

Earlier, monogamy had nothing to do with love. It was being sexually active with only one person so as to procreate and protect. Monogamy today is ‘one person at a time.’ Where then comes the narrative of cheating?

I believe when expectations from that ‘one person at a time’ aren’t met, we often stray. We live in an age where we feel that we are entitled to make our wishes come true by hook(up) or crook! We think that we deserve to be ‘more happy’ than we are now. Thus, we turn for a ‘happier us’ in the arms of another person.

Affairs are sometimes also about freedom, finding emotional connect, passion, and a wish to recapture our lost essence in someone else. In my opinion, it is the forbidden fruit that helps us rediscover a part of us which we have lost in the topsy-turvy process of life!

Be it is Krishna with 16108 wives or Romeo with Juliet, in any given relationship, challenges and integrity are always on the surface!

Visual happiness gets way too much importance today

Today, it is all about the aesthetic sense of things. Whether it is the caffè latte that you are having at an instagrammable place or the crazy in love photos with your partner, everything needs to be on point.

Happiness is becoming more visual. And, the notion of happiness as an emotion is being given extravagant importance.

In this process, we have regarded all the other emotions as worthless. As a result, breaking promises, cheating on someone, and hurling hurt has become easier, under the guise of ‘self-love’ or ‘my happiness’.

It doesn’t matter if infidelity is a choice, prescribed, or a conditioned response to repeat some unconscious behavior patterns. It still hurts because it is the ultimate betrayal.

I believe that in any given relationship, it is important you lay down your definitions of these institutions, communicate them, honour boundaries, resolve conflicts, and define integrity on your own terms!

In the new age of love, with the appeal of open or designer relationships, what is your take on the institutions of marriage, monogamy, and infidelity?

First published here.

Image source: a still from the web series Love Per Square Foot

Comments