supermonogamy

English

Etymology

Coined in 2004 by Elizabeth Emens from super- +‎ monogamy.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈs(j)upɚməˈnɑɡəmi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

supermonogamy (uncountable)

1. The ideal that a person should or will only have one sexual/romantic partner in their lifetime.

   The notion of soulmates reinforces the myth of supermonogamy.

   • 2004, Elizabeth F. Emens, “Monogamy's Law: Compulsory Monogamy and Polyamorous Existence”, in New York University Review of Law & Social Change, volume 29, →DOI, page 294:

     Plato's tale colorfully captures the potent fantasy of absolute monogamy, of supermonogamy, the vision of a unique and permanent bond between two individuals.

   • 2010, Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Border Sexualities, Border Families in Schools, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 11:

     Indeed, whether the mainstream idealizes "supermonogamy" and practices "serial monogamy," there is a parallel system of "pretend monogamy" based on secret affairs outside the official monogamous union that are occurring concurrently.

   • 2017, Mark Goldfeder, Legalizing Plural Marriage: The Next Frontier in Family Law, Lebanon, NH: Brandeis University Press, →ISBN, page 60:

     Going back to our theory about happiness, it might be fair to say that supermonogamy has made "perfect the enemy of the good." If people are not happy they feel comfortable or entitled to look elsewhere; they no longer feel constrained by an initial choice.

See also

• soulmate
• true love