Marriage and Beyond: Dyadic Negotiations of Consensual Non-Monogamy Among Bi+ Adults in the United States

• In Event: Beyond Mononormativity in the Sociology of Sexualities

Abstract

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is often discussed in the context of sexual identity and individual agency, but it is rarely studied within the dynamics of established married relationships. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with midlife 15 couples (N = 30) in the United States, this study explores how couples with at least one bisexual partner navigate CNM. Leveraging Giddens’ pure relationship framework and moving beyond mononormative understandings of intimate relationships, we analyze how couples navigate CNM to accommodate bisexual identity and non-monogamous practices while maintaining dyadic primacy. Preliminary findings suggest that CNM functions in three primary ways for married couples with a bisexual partner: (1) as a strategy to sustain the primary relationship, (2) as a form of partner support facilitating bisexual self-realization, and (3) as a shared project that enhances intimacy and connection within the marriage. Across cases, spouses emphasized the primacy of the marital bond, framing outside relationships as complementary rather than competitive. By foregrounding the couple as the unit of analysis, this study contributes to scholarship on LGBTQ+ families and relationship diversity, demonstrating how married Bi+ adults reinterpret mononormative ideals without abandoning the institutional framework of marriage.

Authors

• Katie Mueller, The Ohio State University

• Asya Saydam, University of Texas-Austin