We use cookies on this website. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Read about cookies.
-
- Education
- Education
- Programmes and courses
- Applications and admissions
- Tuition fees
- Scholarships
- Exchange studies at Malmö University
- Study Guidance
-
- After admission
- After admission
- Moving to Malmö
- Pre-orientation
- Arrival guide
-
- About studies at Malmö University
- About studies at Malmö University
- Why choose Malmö University
- Understanding university studies
- Connect with current students
On the page -
- Research
- Research
-
- Doctoral studies
- Doctoral studies
- Doctoral courses
-
- Doctoral schools
- Doctoral schools
- Education, Learning and Globalisation
- Doctoral school: Learning in Multicultural Societal Contexts
- Swedish National Graduate School in Science and Technology Education Research
- Doctoral school: Relevancing Mathematics and Science Education (RelMaS)
- Doctoral school: Sustainable Movement Education
- Finding ways in a time of great future challenges (FinnFram)
- Doctoral school: Pedagogy and Vocational Skills
- Doctoral school: Culturally Empowering Education through Language and Literature
- Research subjects
-
- Prominent research
- Prominent research
-
- Research publications
- Research publications
- Search publications
- Malmö University Press
- Research events
- Be part of research
On the page -
- Collaboration and Innovation
- Collaboration and Innovation
-
- Collaboration and external relations
- Collaboration and external relations
- Collaboration with students
-
- Collaborate with researchers
- Collaborate with researchers
- Labs and facilities
-
- Platforms, networks and projects
- Platforms, networks and projects
- Muvah
- Culture collaboration
- Innovation
- Support Malmö University
On the page -
- About us
- About us
-
- Job opportunities
- Job opportunities
- Current vacancies
- Meet our staff
- Employee benefits
-
- Faculties and departments
- Faculties and departments
-
- Faculty of Culture and Society
- Faculty of Culture and Society
- Department of Urban Studies
- Department of Global Political Studies
- School of Arts and Communication
-
- Faculty of Education and Society
- Faculty of Education and Society
- Department of Childhood, Education and Society
- Department of Sports Sciences
- Department of Natural Science, Mathematics and Society
- Department of School Development and Leadership
- Department of Culture, Languages and Media
- Department of Society, Culture and Identity
-
- Faculty of Technology and Society
- Faculty of Technology and Society
- Department of Computer Science and Media Technology
- Department of Materials Science and Applied Mathematics
- Faculty of Odontology
-
- Contact Malmö University
- Contact Malmö University
- Visit Malmö University
- Map of the buildings (Google Maps)
- Merchandise
- Whistleblowing
- News and press
- Management and decision-making paths
-
- Vision, objectives and strategy 2025
- Vision, objectives and strategy 2025
- Global engagement
- Sustainability
- Widened recruitment and participation
- Quality work at the University
- Apartments for researchers
-
- Malmö Academic Choir and Orchestra
- Malmö Academic Choir and Orchestra
- Student work - video pieces
- Alumni & Friends
- Annual Academic Celebration
-
- University Dental Clinic
- University Dental Clinic
- About the University Dental Clinic
- The University in a troubled world
On the page
Polyamory and living outside the “norm” prompt strong reactions
Openly polyamorous individuals can face strong and highly opinionated reactions from the community, especially if they have children. In a new study, polyamorous people talk about how they handle “norms” around family life and parenthood.
Earlier this year, a column in a Swedish newspaper triggered a media storm when a worried mother asked for advice because her adult son told her that he and the mother of their children were living in a polyamorous relationship. In response to the letter, the paper’s psychologist advised her to try to accept her son's choice, something that provoked a heated debate among readers and social commentators.
“The debate puts the finger on what our study shows. There are very established norms for how we should conduct adult relationships, which in turn have a strong connection to family life and parenthood. Those who go outside this “norm” trigger strong and often emotive, reactions,” says Catrine Andersson, associate professor of social work.
In 2017, Andersson with colleague Charlotta Carlström, started a pilot project at Malmö University on polyamory. The interest in participating in the interviews was great and now the pilot project has resulted in a number of publications, most recently a chapter in the newly published anthology ‘Close Relations - Family, Kinship, and Beyond’. The chapter sheds light on the issue of polyamory and parenthood.
“Among our interviewees, there were many who thought that good parenting can go hand in hand with having multiple relationships. The biggest problems are instead about having to deal with the strong reactions of those around the parents, and spending a lot of time and energy explaining,” says Andersson.
The study looks at themes such as the ideal image of the good parent, norms around coupledom and sexual morality and promiscuity.
Polyamory is an issue that stirs up reactions, ranging from mild misunderstanding to very strong reactions and accusations of a poor and confused approach to parenting, explains Andersson.
The interviewees had different strategies for dealing with the reactions and questions from those around them, but most of those who participated in the study avoided being open about how they lived and their family structure.
“Overall, our research shows that there is still quite a big problem for those who live polyamorously to be open. This is a relatively small study, but the results are in line with what international research shows,” says Andersson.
More about the research and the researcher
Being polyamorous is simply expressed as having several romantic and/or sexual partners at the same time, and where everyone knows about each other. Poly, or polyamory is used as a collective name for relationships and people who, in various ways, go beyond the norm of duality.
The study on polyamorous parenting is part of the pilot project Polyamory - relationships, family and everyday life outside coupledom norms. The findings in the project are based on interviews with 22 people with experiences of non-monogamous relationships.
- Find out more about Catrine Andersson and her research
- The research project: Polyamory – relationships, family and everyday life beyond norms of coupledom
- Check out the anthology, Close Relations