Open relationships works favorably for Shirley MacLaine and some other celeb couples. What’s the key to this romantic design’s sustainability? My video feature with Showbiz CheatSheet explains.
CheatSheet’s digital editors write, “The concept of open relationships elicits a debate according to many who believe in a more monogamous way of life. More and more celebrities have come out in favor of open marriages, with some like Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith crediting it with their marital functionality. Steel Magnolias star Shirley MacLaine agrees as she said she and Steve Parker’s open relationship helped sustain their 28-year marriage.
Susan Winter Breaks Down Open Relationships
In her video, Susan Winter discusses if open relationships can work and advises couples considering an open relationship. She clarifies that open relationships are not for everyone and should not be entered into lightly. Open relationships require a strong foundation and clear communication between partners. She advises couples to discuss what is acceptable and not acceptable in their relationship, including how far they will go emotionally with other people.
Susan also advises that couples entering into open relationships be honest with themselves and each other about their motivations. Open relationships are not a solution for couples who are unhappy in their primary relationship.
The video above also includes a few examples of clients Susan has worked with who have had open relationships. One example is a couple who co-parent a child together but are not romantically involved. Susan says that this couple still experiences jealousy even though they are not in love. Another example Susan provides is a gay couple who wanted to add a third person to their relationship. Susan advises them on how to communicate their expectations to the third person.
Overall, open relationships can work, but they require a lot of work and communication. Susan advises couples to carefully consider if an open relationship is right for them before entering into one.
Shirley MacLaine believes an open relationship is the secret to a happy marriage
MacLaine and Parker got married in 1954 and got divorced in 1982. The duo shares a daughter Stephanie Sachiko Parker who goes by Sachi. With a nearly 30-year-old marriage, it’s fair to say MacLaine is an authority on most things marriage.
The actor told People in 2016 that the secret to her long-lasting marriage lay in their open relationship. She told the outlet that she and her film producer husband were more of friends than they were lovers. She said, “I guess you would say ‘practiced an open marriage’ in 1954, which was another lifetime.”
MacLaine further shared that no one understood their arrangement, but it made sense to them. “He lived in Japan basically, I lived in America working, and this and that. We’d meet up. Always great friends. Traveled sometimes together.”
“I think that’s the basis for a long-lasting marriage if you really want to do such a thing,” she said. MacLaine offered that it’s better for two people to remain friends throughout the union. “We don’t have enough time to talk about the sexuality of all. I was very open about all that and so was he,” she said. MacLaine stood by Parker and their relationship, once calling Parker “the love of my life.”
Expert opinions on open marriages
Open marriages tear the very fabric of what many grew up believing about romantic commitment. This is partially why it fascinates most people. Psychology Today reports that about 5% of the population practices consensual non-monogamy (CNM).
Researchers suggest that the number may be higher given the stigma surrounding CNM. Many people not openly admitting to being in an open relationship. According to Oprah Daily, an open relationship is an arrangement where two people decide to include others in their shared experiences for sexual pleasure.
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