Thanks to the corruption of a belief system, the media sensationalism of a spare few, and the stereotypes of a lifestyle, polyamorous relationships are suffering polygamous scorn.

The recent media attention on polygamous communities such as those in Colorado City and ElDorado Texas, and on their leader Warren Jeffs, have exposed the ugly underbelly of a corrupted belief system and its dangers to young girls as well as the incredible ways that man will justify criminal actions in the name of their religion. But due to ignorance and close-mindedness those who live a polyamorous lifestyle are now suffering through this societal persecution.

Newsflash! Polyamory IS NOT polygamy!

• Polyamory is a lifestyle. Polygamy is a religious practice. To be polyamorous is to love more than one person and solidify that love in the form of a relationship which ALL partners are aware of and in acceptance of that union. They become a team which encompasses all partners. Polygamous unions are quite the opposite where the pairings are most often a selection of the community leader, and for the purposes of procreation and growth of the family. The relationship between the man and each of his wives is individual. One partner has no say about bringing in others, and often have no emotional relationship with the other “wives”.
• Polyamory is not just about sex! Shows like the new Swingtown will most likely use the classification of polyamory when really they’re focusing on swinging. Comparing swinging to polyamory is like comparing a one night stand to a full-blown relationship. The difference is HUGE, and sex is often a very small part of the overall picture.
• Polyamory is not about a guy getting more than one girlfriend, or exhibiting male power. Trust me, if the girl’s aren’t into each other, there’s no WAY the guy would have that kind of deal. And in a society where women hold the acceptance key to this lifestyle, guys don’t get a lot of power going into the deal. If the relationship is strong and healthy, then the power balance is equal between all partners.
• Polyamory is not reserved to perverts and nymphos. The emotional investment in a polyamorous relationship is just as high as any other. There are jealousy issues, commitments, boundaries, responsibilities and every other aspect of a “traditional” relationship. To some, the big difference is having that extra perspective, experience, and sometimes that mediator to help bring a balance to decisions and discussions that other couples often have to seek outside of their relationship.

So before you roll your eyes, shun, or otherwise pass judgment on someone else’s lifestyle decisions, take the time to understand them. Have the common sense to know the difference between your apples and oranges, and don’t fall into media hype and stereotypes.

Today Yahoo! has launched their brand new website “Shine” to much success! Shine is a news and blog site targeting female readers ages 25-54. After looking over the site I have to give it two enthusiastic thumbs up. It is a well-organized, simple layout absolutely stuffed (but not overbearing) with useful information which I was actually interested in reading! As opposed to other news sites, there was no abundance of “fluff” articles about celebrity gossip or sex quizzes which normally flood the women’s section. Instead I found interesting and educational articles about saving money, workplace challenges, open relationship advice, politics, and entertainment. What surprised me most though was the lack of excessive advertisements. The page is uncluttered and the ads are few and far between which is a refreshing sight on a page with such a refined target market. Check it out for yourselves and tell me what you think!