What's the Difference between Polygamy and Polyamory?

I was having drinks with a new friend the other day when she revealed to me that she is polyamorous. Currently she is involved with a woman, but in the past, she was married to a man and had female partners. I have known people involved in non-monogamous relationships before and I know that although they can be a lot of work, for some people it is the only kind of relationship that satisfies them.

Right after we had our discussion, the polygamist sect in Texas was all over the news. It got me to thinking that a lot of people probably don't realize that there is a difference between polyamory and polygamy.

What is the difference between polyamory and polygamy? Is one more egalitarian than the other? Is one male dominated and the other less dependent on gender roles?

Learn the Basics

• What is polyamory?
• What is the difference between polyamory and polygamy?

_{Photo by © Rodolfo Clix}