Monogamy and Non-Monogamy
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Compersion
Compersion is the feeling of joy, pleasure, or happiness that comes from witnessing someone else's romantic or sexual satisfaction, particularly when experienced by people in consensually non-monogamous relationships. It's often described as the opposite of jealousy and commonly occurs when seeing a partner experiencing happiness with another partner.
Cuck shed
A cuck shed is a derogatory internet slang term referring to a small outdoor structure or space where a submissive male partner is made to stay while their partner engages in sexual activities with others, playing into cuckolding fetish dynamics and humiliation fantasies.
Cuck
A cuck, short for cuckold, is a man whose partner is sexually unfaithful, often with his knowledge or consent. In modern usage, particularly online, it's sometimes used as an insult to imply weakness or submissiveness in a man.
Cuckold pregnancy
A cuckold pregnancy refers to a consensual arrangement where a woman becomes pregnant by someone other than her primary male partner, with her partner's knowledge and often encouragement, as part of their cuckolding fetish or lifestyle dynamic. This practice combines elements of non-monogamy and breeding fetishism, where the primary male partner derives sexual excitement from his partner being impregnated by another man.
Cuckquean
A cuckquean is a woman who derives sexual arousal or pleasure from knowing that her male partner is having sex with other women, often watching or hearing about these encounters. This is considered the female equivalent of a cuckold, though it's generally less common in both practice and popular culture.
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Hierarchical Polyamory
Hierarchical polyamory is a relationship structure within non-monogamous relationships where partners are prioritized in a ranked system. In this dynamic, individuals have a primary partner who typically takes precedence in terms of time, resources, and commitment, followed by secondary or tertiary partners. The hierarchy is usually explicitly acknowledged and agreed upon by all involved parties.
Hotwife
A hotwife is a married woman who engages in sexual activities with men other than her husband, with her husband's full knowledge and consent. This practice is typically part of a consensual non-monogamous relationship dynamic where the husband derives pleasure from his wife's sexual encounters with other partners. The term "hotwife" is often used within the context of the lifestyle and swinging communities.
Hotwifing
Hotwifing refers to a consensual non-monogamous arrangement where a married woman engages in sexual relationships with other men, with her husband's knowledge and encouragement. Unlike traditional cuckolding, hotwifing typically doesn't involve humiliation or submission of the husband, but rather focuses on the mutual enjoyment and empowerment of both partners.
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Metamour
A metamour is a term used in polyamorous or ethically non-monogamous relationships to describe your partner's other partner(s) with whom you are not directly romantically or sexually involved. Essentially, it's your partner's partner. The term comes from the Greek "meta" (meaning beyond or after) and "amour" (meaning love).
Mono-Poly Relationships
A mono-poly relationship, short for monogamous-polyamorous relationship, is a dynamic where one partner practices monogamy while the other engages in polyamory. In this arrangement, the monogamous partner is exclusive to their polyamorous partner, while the polyamorous partner may have multiple romantic or sexual relationships with the knowledge and consent of all involved.
Monogamous Marriage
Monogamous marriage refers to a legally and/or socially recognized union between two individuals who commit to sexual and romantic exclusivity with each other. This type of relationship structure is characterized by the expectation that both partners will not engage in intimate or sexual relationships with others outside of the marriage.
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Polyamory
Polyamory is the practice of engaging in multiple romantic relationships with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved. Polyamorous individuals may have more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time. The key defining aspect is that these relationships are conducted with honesty, openness, and the agreement of everyone involved.
Polyandry
Polyandry is a form of non-monogamous relationship or marriage in which a woman has multiple male partners simultaneously. It's a specific type of polygamy, where one individual has multiple spouses. In polyandrous arrangements, a single woman is married to or in a committed relationship with two or more men at the same time, with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved.
Polyfidelity
Polyfidelity is a form of non-monogamous relationship in which all members are considered equal partners and agree to restrict sexual activity to only other members of the group. This creates a closed relationship system, similar to monogamy, but involving more than two people. In polyfidelitous relationships, all partners are committed to each other with the same level of fidelity expected in monogamous relationships.
Polygyny
Polygyny is a form of non-monogamous relationship or marriage in which one man is married to or in a relationship with multiple women simultaneously. It's a specific type of polygamy, which is the broader term for any marriage involving multiple spouses. In polygynous relationships, the man typically takes on the role of husband to multiple wives, who may or may not be connected to each other.
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Solo-polyamory
Solo-polyamory is a relationship style and philosophy where an individual practices polyamory (having multiple romantic or sexual relationships) while maintaining an independent or "single" lifestyle. Solo-polyamorists, often referred to as "solo-poly," prioritize personal autonomy and typically don't seek traditional relationship escalators like cohabitation, marriage, or shared finances with their partners.
Swingers
Swingers are individuals who engage in sexual activities with other people besides their primary romantic partners, typically in a recreational or social context. Swinging, also known as partner-swapping or wife-swapping, involves consensual exchange of partners within a couple or among a group of people for sexual purposes.
Swinging
Swinging is a non-monogamous practice where committed couples consensually engage in sexual activities with other couples or individuals. Also known as "partner swapping" or "the lifestyle," swinging typically involves married or long-term partners who agree to have sexual experiences outside their primary relationship, often together or with each other's knowledge and approval.