Beyond Monogamy': Professor Publishes Book on 'Future' of Polyamorous, 'Polyqueer' Relationships

NYU Press released a new book Tuesday that speculates about the "future" of polygamous sexual relationships and sexuality in society. "Beyond Monogamy: Polyamory and the Future of Polyqueer Sexualities" explores the "potential of non-dyadic" sex and relationships.

The book's author, Mimi Schippers, is an associate professor of sociology and gender and sexuality studies at Tulane University.

"Schippers argues that compulsory monogamy promotes the monogamous couple as the only legitimate, natural, or desirable relationship form in ways that support and legitimize gender, race, and sexual inequalities," a description of the book reads.

Her thesis is that monogamy is merely a convention that inhibits the potential of more progressive conceptions of sexuality. In other words, monogamy is no better than any other sexual relationship, and treating it as if it were hinders humans from experiencing true contentment.

According to Schippers' website, "She is an expert on the sociology of polyamory and lectures on the topic. She has also conducted workshops on negotiating polyamorous relationships and has taught courses for therapists who treat polyamorous clients."

Schippers is also the author of "Rockin' Out of the Box: Gender Maneuvering in Alternative Hard Rock" and runs a blog called Marx in Drag, where she posts commentary with the stylings of "Karl Marx’s social critique and utopian vision all dolled up in queer drag."

According to the description of "Rockin' Out of the Box," Schippers is a gender nonessentialist who believes that "gender is a constantly shifting performance and not an essential quality related to [biological] sex."

Schippers' latest book is part of NYU Press' "Intersections" series, a collection of works that explore "the intersections of gender and sexuality with multiple forms of identity and social organization, including age, class, race, religion and ethnicity, among others."