Louise Perry dives into the debate over monogamy versus polyamory. She explores the potential of polyamory as a sexual minority rights movement while emphasizing the stability of monogamous relationships. Highlighting the 'Cinderella effect,' she discusses how polygynous households can lead to increased conflict and risks for children. Perry traces monogamy's roots back to ancient Rome and discusses how Christianity reshaped sexual ethics to protect the vulnerable, revealing the complexities around sexual norms and societal well-being.
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insights INSIGHT
Evolution Limits Designing New Mating Systems
Polyamory proponents claim polygyny was the dominant human mating model across cultures.
Louise Perry argues our evolved minds limit how well we can redesign mating systems despite technological change.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Salt Lake City Example And The Cinderella Effect
Perry references Salt Lake City and fundamentalist polygamy as an example of plural marriage practice.
She highlights the Cinderella effect where stepchildren face much higher abuse risk in such households.
insights INSIGHT
Monogamy Correlates With Social Stability
Monogamous societies tend to be more stable, peaceful, and prosperous compared to polygynous ones.
Perry cites higher household conflict and much greater risk of child abuse in multiwife households as key harms.
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Is polygamy good for society? Author Louise Perry explains.
What is the future of romantic relationships? Louise Perry, author of "Women Aren't Human," explores the possibilities of polyamory as the next sexual minority rights movement. While some proponents argue for legal recognition of their relationships, Perry cautions against rejecting the monogamous model entirely.
Despite the commonality of polygynous mating models in human history, Perry argues that monogamy has proven to be a more stable and peaceful system in society. She cites the "Cinderella effect," where households with multiple wives are more prone to conflict and stepparents are more likely to abuse their stepchildren. Perry also traces the historical roots of monogamy to ancient Rome, where sexual ethics were vastly different and cruel, and to the advent of Christianity, which introduced radical and revolutionary ideas about sexuality.
Despite the downsides of Christian views on sexuality, Perry argues that their fundamental tenet of protecting the weak and restraining the strong remains relevant today.
0:00 Monogamy vs. Polygyny
1:46 Monogamy: Better for society?
2:57 Ancient Rome & the Christian inflection point
4:24 “De-Christianizing” sexual ethics
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About Louise Perry:
Louise Perry is a writer and campaigner based in London, UK. She is a columnist at the New Statesman and a features writer for the Daily Mail. Her debut book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century, is published by Polity.
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