Sex and moral constraints tend to go hand in hand. Even though monogamy is no longer the norm, it is still the case that monogamy and lifelong commitment are seen to hold the moral high ground. But might this be a mistake? Critics of marriage argue that traditional societies such as the Iroquois and Maasai tribes built strong and stable relationships based on large polygamous family structures. Furthermore, they argue such structures foster an egalitarian culture in which women enjoy greater security over property and land.
Might a society which abandoned the norm of traditional ‘couples’ help to eradicate hierarchies and inequality between the sexes and build a communal sense of 'family' that we lack in contemporary culture? More broadly should we seek to remove morality from sexual relations altogether? Or are we right to see long term commitment as morally justified and essential for personal and social harmony?