New Types of Relationships

Ethical Non-Monogamy

“Oh, no no no no no.”

But think about it for a minute. Haven’t you met couples who want to remain together but also continually “cheat”? Would honesty make them happier? You may not agree (and I’m not advocating one way or another), but here’s the info on a growing trend.

Ethical non-monogamy (ENM), aka consensual non-monogamy (CNM), is a relationship structure in which all parties involved knowingly and voluntarily agree to have more than one romantic or sexual partner at the same time. It’s built on mutual consent, transparency, open communication, and respect for everyone’s boundaries and needs.  Unlike infidelity, ENM is not secretive — all partners are aware of and agree to the arrangement. It challenges the traditional

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Common Types of ENM

ENM is an umbrella term that can include:

• Polyamory: Multiple romantic relationships with all partners’ consent; can involve emotional and sexual connections with more than one person.
• Open relationships: Romantic exclusivity with one partner but allowing sexual relationships with others.
• Swinging: Romantic exclusivity with one partner but mutual exploration of sexual relationships with others.
• Monogamish: A mix of monogamy and non-monogamy, often with occasional outside relationships.
• Throuples: Romantic and sexual relationships involving 3 or more people.
• Relationship anarchy: No fixed relationship structure; partners may have multiple partners without formal agreements.

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