The Who and Why of Consensual Nonmonogamy Among African Americans
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ORIGINAL PAPER
The Who and Why of Consensual Nonmonogamy Among African Americans Noelle M. St. Vil1 · Natalie M. Leblanc2 · Kelly N. Giles3 Received: 30 August 2019 / Revised: 1 September 2020 / Accepted: 4 September 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Prevalence rates of consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) demonstrate little difference across race. Yet, not much is known about CNM among African Americans. Through an online survey study, we examined the correlates of CNM among African Americans as well as the reasons why they engage. A total of 1050 African Americans between the ages of 18–40 years participated in this study. Binomial logistic regression was utilized to determine the correlates of CNM. Sexual orientation was the only significant predictor of CNM. The following variables were nonsignificant predictors of CNM: age, gender, household income, religiosity, and education. Qualitative analysis revealed several reasons for CNM engagement: (1) belief that it is natural; (2) excitement; (3) not meant for each other; (4) scared of losing partner; (5) bisexuality; (6) does not want commitment; and (7) maintain honesty, trust, and integrity. This study adds to the sparse knowledge base of CNM among African Americans. Keywords Consensual nonmonogamy · African Americans · Sexual orientation · Relationship type
Introduction Consensual nonmonogamous relationships (CNM; a relational agreement to have sex or romance with multiple partners including open, swinging, polyamory, triads, and other relationship types) are as prevalent as LGBT relationships (Levine, Herbenick, Martinez, Fu, & Dodge, 2018), with estimates ranging from 4–5% (Levine et al., 2018; Rubin, Moors, Matsick, Ziegler, & Conley, 2014). Additionally, according to a representative national sample, more than one in five currently single U.S. adults have engaged in CNM at some point in their lifetime (Haupert, Gesselman, Moors, Fisher, & Garcia, 2017). Media representations of CNM relationships have increased (e.g., Seeking Sisterwives, Insecure, House of Cards, Sisterwives) as well as the U.S. population’s desire to know more about this alternative relationship structure (Moors, 2017).
* Noelle M. St. Vil [email protected] 1
School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, 645 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260‑1050, USA
2
School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
3
Department of Sociology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
The sex ratio may provide a partial explanation for CNM, particularly among African Americans. According to sex ratio theory, when there is a low supply of men and an oversupply of women, nonmonogamous relationships become the norm (Guttentag & Secord, 1983). While there is a surplus of men to women among many racial groups such as non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics (101.9 and 112.8 men per 100 women, respectively), due to factors such as high mortality, incarceration, education, and unemployment rates among African American men (Aral, Adi
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