Parenting Consensual Non-Monogamists’ Perceptions of Parenthood, Intimacy, and Communication

Abstract

This article presents partial results of a larger mixed methods study about consensual non-monogamists’ perceptions of their parenting and sexual lifestyle, particularly those involving the transition to parenthood, intimacy and communication. Using The Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice lens, six participants completed an online questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide. Consensual non-monogamists are like other parents, yet they prioritise sexual intimacy over emotional intimacy. Communication is very important for them. The quantitative results support the qualitative ones: the participants had a higher level of parenting sense of competence, and the means for emotional and sexual intimacy were lower for primary partners than for secondary ones. Perinatal health care professionals including nurses need to know more about parenting consensual non-monogamists and their partner(s). More research is warranted with this particular group of parents, especially on their experiences of minority stress, resilience and taking a more intersectional research approach.

Keywords:

• Consensual non-monogamy,
• transition to parenthood,
• emotional intimacy,
• sexual intimacy,
• Communication