"Monogamy, you may have heard, is in crisis. Fewer people are in relationships, let alone opting to be in one 'til death. And even those who have already exchanged vows seem to be increasingly looking for wiggle room. Quiet divorce mentally checking out of your union, rather than going through the rigmarole of formally dissolving it is reportedly on the rise, as is ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and opening up a relationship to include other partners."
"This is borne out by my experience on mainstream dating apps. About one profile in every 10 I come across seems to express a preference for ENM or polyamory, or mentions an existing wife or girlfriend. The best you can hope for, if you're prepared to accept those terms, is that the primary partner really is across the arrangement as described."
Monogamy is increasingly perceived as fragile, with fewer people in relationships and many seeking alternatives to lifelong commitment. Some partners pursue 'quiet divorce,' mentally disengaging without formal separation, while ethical non-monogamy and polyamory gain visibility. Dating-app profiles often signal openness to ENM or disclose existing partnerships. Pop culture—from celebrity albums to songs—reflects skepticism toward single-partner commitments. Surveys show significant public ambivalence: about 31% of Britons view monogamy as unrealistic, rising to 42% among 18-24-year-olds, and a 2023 YouGov poll found respondents nearly evenly split on whether humans are naturally monogamous. A University of Cambridge study examined human monogamy relative to other mammals.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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