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Polyamorous Representation in Netflix’s “How to Build a Sex Room”
Does a 7-person relationship on a show about sex further the cause of normalization or add to existing stigmas?
In early July, Netflix aired a new show titled “How to Build a Sex Room.” In a strange, yet thrilling, combination of home renovation and sex, this new series is everything the title promises it will be.
Melanie Rose, a designer with more than 10 years of experience, interviews people — mostly couples — about their dream sex room, then gets to work making it a reality. Episode 4 especially caught my eye as it featured not just one couple, but a polyamorous relationship made up of 7 people who call themselves The Family.
The Good and the Bad of a Group Relationship on TV
I have mixed feelings when it comes to this particular representation of polyamorous relationships in the media.
On the upside, it’s nice to see ethically non-monogamous (ENM) people on an episode of a show that many monogamous people will likely watch. That alone can make big strides towards the goal of normalizing polyamory. For some viewers, this could be their first brush with the concepts of non-monogamy. It could open doors and spark ideas for…
