"It's such a norm brott" : Non-Monogamous Parenting Practices in Sweden

Abstract: Normative ideas of what it means to be a ‘good’ parent can often come into conflict with non-monogamy. This thesis explores how non-monogamous parents living in Sweden adhere to certain normative relationship and family practices, while rejecting others. Additionally, this thesis identifies some of the counternormative strategies that non-monogamous parents integrate into their parenting practices. This research is based on data that was collected through nine semi-structured interviews with twelve non-monogamous parents living in Sweden. This data was then analyzed primarily using theoretical frameworks from within the fields of queer studies. Furthermore, concepts of queer kinship and family formation are utilized in order to understand the experiences of the participants. This study reveals that ideals around what it means to be a ‘good’ parent can create hardship for non-monogamous parents who do not adhere to mononormative family structures. The fear of facing stigma, conflict, or the loss of social relationships serves as a strong motivating factor for non-monogamous parents to maintain some normative family practices, such as dyadic parenting dynamics, child-centered lifestyles, and rigid familial borders. At the same time, many parents exercise small, daily acts of counterresistance to these pressures. Motivation for these practices often lies in the desire to open up possibilities for their children to live their lives in a free and authentic way, regardless of their gender, sexuality, or relationship orientation.