One Partner? Not in my Mansion!

The reason monogamy is valued and revered in society is simple: it gives us standards. In turn, this system of standards creates stability and consistency which is what most look for in living their lives. For instance, consider the “American Dream,” the benchmark for what we consider to be life of prosperity and happiness. The family resides comfortably in their home surrounded by a garden and white picket fence, the working husband puts food on the table, and the stay at home wife takes care of the kids. The American Dream revolves just as much around a monogamous relationship as it does around money and material possession. For the institution of marriage, the standard is most commonly a heteronormative one, so it does have a tendency to reinfornce the binaristic definition of gender and sexuality.

Almost everything we do is society is measured and judged relative to a set standard or fundamental value or belief. This is why homosexual relationships are considered “queer.” This is why is hurts to be “cheated” on. This is why it’s not socially acceptable to have two wives or two girlfriends. Speaking of which, let’s take a look playboy mogul Hugh Hefner. Hefner has publicly expressed his belief that monogamy is “unnatural.” He believes he can be a devoted, sensible, and faithful husband all while balancing multiple relationships with his playmate girlfriends. It seems that monogamy is not a question of faith for Hef. For him, the inclination to have multiple partners is an innate human desire that should not be repressed. Hef believes one’s love and affection cannot not be confined solely to another individual. It’s all a matter of how one is brought up. Hugh Hefner was brought up in a family setting deprived of warmth and expressions of love between its members. Hef himself has even said that hugs were not a common practice in his family. Perhaps this is the reason for his need to have multiple partners in his life now: to make up for the lack of love felt in his childhood years. For myself, monogamy is not only ideal, but also the only form of relationship that makes sense. My parents have sustained infallible marriage for almost 25 years and this is the example I intend to follow.