Proposition 31
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''Proposition 31'' is a 1968 novel written by
Robert Rimmer Robert Henry Rimmer (March 14, 1917 – August 1, 2001) was an American writer who authored several books, most notably ''The Harrad Experiment'', which was made into a film in 1973. The recurring theme in almost all of Rimmer's writing wa ...
that tells the story of two middle-class, suburban California couples who adopt a relationship structure of
polyfidelity Polyfidelity is a type of non-monogamous relationship in which all members are recognized as equivalent to the other partners and comply to restrict sexual and romantic relationship activities to exclusively only other members within the group. ...
to deal with their multiple infidelities, as a rationalistic alternative to
divorce Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganising of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the M ...
. The novel is presented as a case study by a psychologist supporting a fictional "Proposition 31" that would amend the
California Constitution The Constitution of California () is the primary organizing law for the U.S. state of California, describing the duties, powers, structures and functions of the government of California. California's constitution was drafted in both English ...
to recognize non-monogamous relationships. In the book, the solution to the couples' problems with adultery and the impregnation of one couple's wife by the other couple's husband is to commit to a
group marriage ''Group Marriage'' is a 1972 sex comedy film directed by Stephanie Rothman. It was the first film she made for Dimension Pictures, a company in which she was a minor shareholder with her husband Charles Swartz along with Larry Woolner. Plot Chri ...
to raise their five
children A child () is a human being between the stages of childbirth, birth and puberty, or between the Development of the human body, developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking ...
in a home
compound Compound may refer to: Architecture and built environments * Compound (enclosure), a cluster of buildings having a shared purpose, usually inside a fence or wall ** Compound (fortification), a version of the above fortified with defensive struc ...
in which the husbands rotate among the wives. The book is a plea to pass this proposed
proposition A proposition is a statement that can be either true or false. It is a central concept in the philosophy of language, semantics, logic, and related fields. Propositions are the object s denoted by declarative sentences; for example, "The sky ...
to offer a sane alternative to divorce.


References

1968 American novels Novels set in California Novels about infidelity Novels by Robert Rimmer {{1960s-novel-stub