My baby just cares for me: Feminism, heterosexuality and non‐monogamy

Abstract

This paper is centrally concerned with examining feminist debates around heterosexuality, monogamy and non‐monogamous relationships. A feminist critique of monogamy is considered, and differing feminist views on the meaning of the 1960s sexual revolution for women, inform the debate. Jealousy is considered in terms of how it upholds the institution and ideology of monogamy. Popular conceptions of monogamy and non‐monogamy are examined and recent feminist debate on heterosexuality is used as a case‐study to discuss gaps and silences in current feminist theorising. I conclude with a critical argument of the potential of non‐monogamy for informing and transforming heterosexual relationships and other social relations.