Reccomended Reading #69: Non-Monogamy, Pt. III
"Why I'm on the Poly Soapbox" by Angi Becker Stevens (Relationship, Activism, Self-Awareness, Sex and Culture) 8/31/11
I adore this piece. She says so much that resonates with me, both about non-monogamy itself and also about why she feels called to speaking about and advocating for it. I deeply appreciate this offering of the author's perspective.
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"Poly Q&A: Is it normal to 'freak out' a little?" by Jade at A Poly Life (Relationship, Psychology, Sociology) 2/22/10
I find this such an even-keel, down-to-earth account of one's personal experience with polyamory that offers extrapolated guidance without ever veering into any kind of self-rigetous or overly generalizing territory (indeed the emphasis on the uniqueness of individuals and relationships is something with which I wholeheartedly agree and appreciate her allusion to). I not only find this impressive but appreciate it as well, as I agree with the author that resources and models of polyamory/non-monogamy can be quite helpful and seem in short suplly. I also love that she points out acculturated ideas like the "scarcity" model and encouragement of competitiveness in relation to cultural/coolecctive perceptions of intimate (and sometimes other) relationship.
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"'Love' Hurts" by Selene (Relationship, Self-Awareness, Psychology, Sex and Culture) 9/30/11
I deeply adore this post. I especially appreciate her mention of the messages about what she terms "love" (in quotes) that are prominent in our culture, as well as her overall distinction between a cultural perception of "love" (again, in quotes) and love. I agree, and I still sometimes wince at the songs, movies, popular culture messages, etc., that seem to glorify what I find questionable if not downright misguided versions of interactive and relationship dynamics. And of course I adore the line that, to me, speaks one of the greatest truths of existence: "You have the love you need already deep down inside you."
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