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Monogamy is one of those terms you’ve probably heard a bunch of times but you’re still not sure what it actually means. While the meaning of the word is rather simple, the concept behind it is a bit more complex. To figure out what does monogamous mean, we need to examine both the etymology and the idea behind the word so, here are our two cents on the subject. You might need it sometime in the future.
Etymology
The word monogamous is made up of two Ancient Greek words – monos and gamos which translate to single and marriage respectively. So, in the most basic of senses, monogamy means a single marriage. This is to say that a monogamous person only has one marriage and can’t have others. In fact, it was in the ancient Greece that the concept of monogamy first came to life. The Greeks and the Romans after them made laws which prohibited men from having multiple marriages even before Christianity made it a holy obligation. So, in many ways, you have Greeks to thank for this.
Modern Meaning
Today, monogamy doesn’t only relate to marriage, but also to any other form of love relationship between two people. In fact, the word is nowadays almost identified with faithfulness. Monogamous people believe in staying true to one partner while they’re in a relationship and condemning any form of cheating. Of course, no one can clearly define what cheating includes, as it varies from one person to another. Interestingly, for men, cheating is primarily physical meaning they’re unlikely to forgive sexual affairs with other men; while, for women, it’s the emotional attachment to another woman that they find devastating and the main cause for a breakup. This doesn’t mean that your partner will necessarily forgive you if you have sex with other women; it’s just that it’s more likely to forgive that than if you fall in love with someone else.
Is It Natural?
The greatest issue with monogamy is that it’s a social construction. There is nothing in our biology that says we should be faithful to our partners. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The biology demands that we procreate as much as possible and with as many partners as we can in order to ensure the continuation of our species. While there are exceptions, this is the general rule in the animal kingdom as well. You can’t deny the fact that we’re all basically animals driven by those same natural urges. The only question is whether we’ve evolved enough to be able to disregard those innate instincts and stay loyal. Therefore, the question what does monogamy mean to you actually asks how willing or capable you are at staying with one partner.
Pros and Cons
So, what are the pros and cons to monogamy? Of course, the reasons can be quite individual, but there are some general ideas that you should consider. Sure, monogamy is considered somewhat virtuous and something you should strive for, but is it really so? Let’s begin with pros. If you prefer long, steady and reliable relationships, you should really look for a monogamous partner that will remain faithful to you. Therefore, monogamy is a basis for a good long term relationship that can end up in marriage and a lifetime of devotion. The bad side of monogamy is that the passion in your relationship can die out after a while. You can grow tired of one another and what then? Sometimes the solution can be found in polygamy as another person could ignite those initial flames. Basically, like the song by Interpol says – “alone we may fight, so just let us be three tonight.”
In the end, it’s all about personal preferences. So, what does monogamous mean to you? Let us know in the section below.
