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The intimate battleground: Discourse, power, and social change in UK media representations of polyamory
Yao, Tianming
Yao, Tianming
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Date
2026-03-16
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doctoral thesis
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Citation
Abstract
This thesis critically examines the representation of polyamory—a form of consensual non-monogamy (CNM)—within UK mainstream media outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, and the Daily Mail. It positions media discourse as a primary terrain of ideological struggle over the legitimacy of intimate life. By interrogating how polyamory is portrayed, the study aims to uncover the deeper ideological frameworks and power relations that structure such representations. It further investigates why these specific portrayals emerge and what they reveal about evolving conceptions of intimacy, ideology, and power in contemporary British society. Methodologically, the research employs an integrated approach combining Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Political Discourse Theory (PDT). This lens is used to excavate the competing ‘social logics’ and ‘fantasmatic logics’ that underpin both the dominant monogamous paradigm and emerging discourses of ethical non-monogamy. Grounded in a realist constructionist philosophy, the analysis moves beyond description to explain the underlying causal mechanisms—the interplay of ideological, economic, technological, and social conditions—that have enabled polyamory’s increased visibility in contemporary Britain. The findings demonstrate that media representations are not neutral reflections but active, contested constructions. These representations simultaneously challenge and reinforce hegemonic norms, offering a nuanced account of the complex power relations that shape modern intimacy.
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Publisher
University of Galway
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License
CC BY-NC-ND