Western monogamy culture is no accident. Controlling the way people engage in relationships is one of the many ways that the ruling class has maintained power throughout history. Monogamy culture has established that finding The OneTM is more important than anything else. Most people plan their entire futures around the expectation of meeting one person to build a life with. And until that moment happens (if it ever does), we’re cycling through periods of isolation, flimsy boundary setting to try to attract The OneTM, and emotional crisis with every break up. And when we’re dealing with these continuous ups and downs, we don’t have much time or energy to question or push back against the larger systems of oppression in place that keep us burnt out and merely surviving. By encouraging (or really, forcing) people into this relationship structure, what are they trying to discourage (or really, prevent)? The answer is: working class people building communities of care that actually meet their needs. Imagine being able to pool together incomes with your partners, friends, and chosen family instead of just relying on yours or your partner’s income to pay the bills. Imagine being able to navigate breakups more easily because you have a community to support you so you don’t hit a new rock bottom every time. Imagine being able to split the responsibilities of child care or elderly care amongst many people instead of having to do it all yourself or rely on paid services. The reality is that, in Capitalism, the ruling class NEEDS us to remain isolated so we have no other choice but to be dependent on them (the private sector). Non-monogamy is just one of the many ways we can challenge these ideals and create something better.