ABSTRACT
This chapter brings together contemporary academic knowledge on threesomes to demonstrate what is known about them. It begins by discussing some of the terms that are used when we talk about threesomes as well as justifying the need to look at threesomes as a unique sexual behaviour. It then moves on to outline some of the major findings from the earliest extensive study into threesomes, before drawing upon the work of Mimi Schippers and her concept of the threesome imaginary in order to provide some context for more recent threesome research. Much of this research highlights how threesomes involving two men and one woman are substantially less desirable, and highly stigmatised in comparison to threesomes involving two women and one man. There are, however, some studies that challenge Schippers’ ideas, and suggest that contemporary ideals of gender and sexuality may have started to test the notions of what makes an acceptable threesome. Thus, this chapter shows that threesomes are a sexual behaviour with multiple layers of potential meaning for those that engage with them.
