Sex With Emily

Why I Opened My Marriage After 20 Years

Nov 7, 2025
Dr. Wednesday Martin, a cultural anthropologist and author of "Untrue," dives into the journey of opening her marriage after 20 years. She discusses how women’s sexual desire often wanes in the first few years of monogamy and explores alternatives like service sex. Wednesday shares her personal transition to non-monogamy, emphasizing communication and empathy. She breaks down the differences between swinging, open relationships, and polyamory, and highlights the importance of safety in finding partners. Her insights on attachment styles and relationship flexibility offer a fresh perspective on modern love.
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ADVICE

Talk Exhaustively Before Opening Up

  • Do have exhaustive, early conversations to set clear rules, boundaries, and reasons before opening a relationship.
  • Check stigma, privacy, safety, frequency, emotional rules, and how to protect the primacy of your relationship.
INSIGHT

Know The Non‑Monogamy Flavors

  • Non-monogamy has distinct forms: swinging, open relationships, and polyamory with different expectations about sex, romance, and community.
  • Understanding vocabulary clarifies what model suits your priorities and risk tolerance.
ANECDOTE

Transition From Traditional Marriage

  • Wednesday Martin transitioned from a 20-year traditional marriage to an open marriage starting around 2019 and kept it private initially.
  • She credits intense communication and negotiated rules for the relationship's functioning and privacy.
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