A woman in a one-sided open marriage has shared how her unconventional relationship operates, revealing that while she is free to date other people, her husband chooses to remain committed only to her.
Karla Houston, 34, who has been married for nine years, explained that she identifies as polyamorous, while her husband prefers a monogamous lifestyle.
Their relationship arrangement, commonly referred to as a mono-poly relationship, allows her to have multiple romantic partners while her husband does not.
Speaking about the dynamic, Houston said the couple gradually embraced the lifestyle after years of open discussions and personal reflection.
“My husband is monogamous and I’m polyamorous, and we’ve had to create a relationship structure that respects those differences,” she said in an interview with The New York Post.
According to her, the decision was not sudden but developed in 2022 after both partners reassessed what worked best for them rather than trying to maintain a traditional marriage structure that no longer reflected their reality.
Houston, who also described herself as bisexual, said she believes relationships should be built on honesty, consent, and personal choice rather than strict social expectations.
She admitted that feelings of jealousy can still arise in their marriage, but noted that they address such emotions through communication and transparency instead of ignoring them.
“Jealousy absolutely comes up because we’re human,” she explained, adding that open conversations help them navigate challenges in the relationship.
The California-based woman also argued that society often reacts differently when women openly discuss non-monogamous lifestyles compared to men.
“There’s usually a double standard where men with multiple partners are accepted more easily, while women are judged harshly for similar behaviour,” she said.
Houston insisted that her husband is not being forced into the arrangement and that their marriage is built on mutual understanding and trust.
She further stated that many outsiders wrongly assume mono-poly relationships are unhealthy or unstable, stressing that such partnerships can still involve commitment and emotional connection.
Relationship experts say mono-poly relationships fall under consensual non-monogamy, though the imbalance between partners often surprises people unfamiliar with polyamorous communities.
Ruby Rare, an intimacy director for the dating app Feeld, said reactions to such arrangements are often influenced by long-standing gender expectations surrounding relationships and fidelity.
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