Are You Ready For Relationship Anarchy?
Q: Charles asked Cooper and Anthony, if a monogamous couple were to open up their relationship, shouldn’t it be with close friends and family who they can trust and not with strangers? Is that a thing?
A: Yes. It’s a thing. What you are talking about isn’t an open relationship. It’s another aspect of ethical non-monogamy called relationship anarchy. The difference is that with an open relationship the main couple is the one who make the rules and there are a whole lot of stuff that are off the table because it becomes an emotional landmine
But with relationship anarchy there are no built-in ideas about what a relationship must be so sex with friends or your partner’s brother isn’t off the table. Also casual friendships with people you’re sleeping with are not a problem.
So that means, if your girlfriend has occasional sex with your brother, she also gets to be friendly towards him at family events without it being an issue for you. In relationship anarchy, there isn’t a unique value placed on romantic relationships, or the main couple, that way many people can fill your needs. And it’s not always sex, it could be in the form of an emotional connection and nothing more.
It isn’t for everybody, but it sounds like it would work for you since you don’t see friends and family as crossing boundaries, whereas most people would see that as being a huge problem.
Relationship anarchy is a philosophical approach to relationships that emphasizes individual autonomy, consent, and the absence of predefined relationship structures or hierarchies. It challenges societal norms and expectations regarding romantic and interpersonal relationships.
In relationship anarchy, the focus is on creating connections and partnerships based on mutual agreement, respect, and personal freedom. It promotes the idea that relationships should be negotiated and shaped by the individuals involved, rather than being constrained by traditional labels or societal expectations.
