Mic.com
By Kate Hakala
How would you feel about an open relationship?
Only 15% of Americans age 18 to 29 would ever consider being in an open relationship, according to a new survey conducted by the Huffington Post and YouGov. That proportion is nearly identical to — not higher than — the numbers for adults age 30 to 44 and 45 to 64.
The survey also found that 18% of 18- to 29-year-olds have been in an open relationship, while only 14% have attended a party where they engaged in sexual activity with multiple partners.
It turns out we young folks might not be as edgy or non-monogamous as everyone assumes. And that’s totally OK.
Overexcited headlines: This lukewarm attitude toward open relationships isn’t the edgy portrait of millennials the media often paints in articles such as Rolling Stone ‘s conversation-starting feature on millennials’ sex lives. “Millennials realize that they’re pushing the boundaries of the sexual revolution beyond what their parents might have expected and their grandparents could even conceive,” Alex Morris excitedly reported.
Indeed, Amy Moors, a University of Michigan sex researcher, told Mic, “Questioning the often unrealistic ideals and expectations of monogamy is having a moment right now.”
But despite the increased interest in casual sex and hookups, data suggests that millennials are having sex about as frequently as previous generations. And while we’re surrounded by a culture that’s more sex-positive than ever, the 20-something dating landscape itself might be tamer than we envision.
Moors’ research shows that many young men and women have positive attitudes towards open relationships and express an interest in swingers’ parties and threesomes, but most couples still don’t actually engage in non-monogamy. …