Beyond Monogamy
This item is included in the following series/curriculum: The Sex Files
- Grade Level: Adult
- Subjects: Sexuality
- Produced By: Exploration Production Inc.
- Year: 2004
- Country: Canada
- Language: English
- Running Time: 30m
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Leave it to Beaver-style marriages went out with black and white television and divorce rates continue to climb, but people continue to strive for monogamous marriage. Some say it's time for a new ideal. Meet Nan and John Wise: high school sweethearts who enjoyed 20 happy years of marriage and raised two children before falling in love with another couple. Instead of breaking up, they decided to become polyamorous: people who believe it's possible to love more than one person romantically at a time. To find out more about this lifestyle, we spend a weekend at the Wise's New Jersey home with girlfriend Amy Oldstein and boyfriend Tom Burgio. We also travel to Seattle where researchers and therapists are hashing out how polyamory can be a viable option in monogamous culture. Finally, we talk to David Barash, a biologist and psychologist who recently wrote a book about the decidedly un-monogomous relationship patterns of birds and mammals. He explains why monogamy doesn't make biological sense - but also the unique human qualities that make us desire and achieve permanent pair bonds despite our strong urges to stray. This program is recommended for an audience aged 17 and up. May contain information that is considered offensive to some viewers.