"You do not talk about it" : a sociological analysis of monogamy and dating infidelity in Singapore.

Abstract

This paper examines the hegemony of monogamy and its deviance. Through focus groups and in-depth interviews with 32 unmarried individuals who have had histories of engaging in dating infidelity, I uncover their subjective interpretations of the concept of monogamy and dating relationships, and examine their experiences of being labeled as a ‘cheater’. My data suggests that the moral boundary of monogamy is rarely being discussed in dating relationships, and that individuals internalize and carry out self-surveillance (Foucault 1977) in order to appear monogamous. I contend that individuals who have been cheated on are afforded with the moral authority to label the offenders as ‘cheaters’. The ‘cheaters’ then employ strategies to hide or exit the label that has been attributed to them. This paper contributes to the field of deviance in sociology, and examines the process of how the hegemonic position of monogamy is reinforced and its effects on individuals involved.