Gen Z isn’t interested in finding “the one.”
More than half (59%) of Gen Zers either want an open or a polyamorous relationship, according to a recent study from Ashley Madison.
Sixty-five percent believe those types of relationships provide fuller sexual and romantic life experiences, while nearly half admit that one sexual partner simply can’t fulfill their sexual needs.
While it should be noted that the results of the study are slightly skewed as the people polled were all users of Ashley Madison — a dating site for married people that encourages affairs — experts agree that Gen Z is more accepting of open relationships than previous generations.
“In the past, people couldn’t wrap their head around polygamy not being tied to infidelity,” New York licensed social worker and life coach Francesa Maximé told The Post.
But as every generation does, Gen Z is breaking the mold of everything from workplace etiquette to relationship norms.
“There is certainly a new perspective in terms of how we look at relationships and what it means to be in a committed one. Open relationships are nothing new, although our willingness to openly talk about them is a fairly recent trend,” psychologist Dr. Michele Leno told The Post.
And Gen Z specifically appears to be more willing to discuss and engage in open relationships for a multitude of reasons.
For one, being more gender and sexually fluid, Gen Zers are using open relationships as a way to explore their identities and desires.
Technology and social media have also played a major role in everything Gen Z does, including non-monogamy allowing them to see models of different relationships, have more access to an array of porn, become accustomed to constant change, be more communicative and connect with more people.
Criticized for oversharing and broadcasting everything online, Gen Z is notorious for revealing in-depth looks into their every day from what they eat to how they manage their relationships.
“Gen Z can see their peers and others sharing their stories,” Maximé said to The Post.
“Social media really normalizes having the kind of relationship you find fulfilling however it’s constructed. It’s really been quite liberating for a lot of Gen Zers to see their curiosities, beliefs and values reflected.”
This generation has also grown up with easy access to a wide variety of porn, which has inspired many to explore and become accustomed to different kinds of sex, which may require adding partners.
These digital natives have also been raised in a world of constant change and newness that has pushed many to “embrace the freedom that comes with dating other people while having that constant someone for security,” Leno told The Post.
Experts note that due to things like travel accessibility, remote work, switching jobs more often, dating apps and, of course, social media, humans today communicate and connect with more people than ever.
Meeting so many people may pique Gen Zers’ interest and have them question whether their one person is enough; FOMO (fear of missing out) can also come into play when choosing a partner.
However, experts note that there are competing narratives defining Gen Z, as the members of this generation have reacted to the major events and phenomena that have defined them in extreme ways.
Gen Zers are known as being the most sexually accepting generation but are also reporting rising rates of abstinence, virginity and loneliness.
While sitting on opposite ends of the spectrum, these seemingly different groups may actually be explained by their struggle to make deep emotional connections.
“I feel both extremes have the same underlying concern, and that it is a fear of vulnerability,” Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, a sociologist, intimacy speaker and author, told The Post.
She explained that open relationships are a way “to still have sexual fun and fulfillment and have human connection, but not be too vulnerable emotionally.”
Basically, Gen Z may be “more sex-positive, but less relationship-positive,” whether they’re sleeping with no one — or everyone.
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November 18, 2023 at 05:07AM
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More than half of Gen Z want open relationships: study - New York Post
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