The concept of "Swedish family"
The Swedish family is the colloquial name of one of the forms of polyamory, which allows a person with multiple love Affairs with the consent and approval of all participants of such relations. In practice, this involves the joint cohabitation of several heterosexual people, for example, one man and two women (or Vice versa).
It is worth noting that this form of relationship does not necessarily imply group sex. This is a slightly different concept, which has the scientific name – trialism. Relations in Swedish family can be very different – a banal affection, friendship, Platonic love, or rivalry.
The Swedish family - not so uncommon as it might seem at first glance. This form of human relationships is represented in different works of literature and film. Most famous film: "the Dreamers" dir. Bernardo Bertolucci, "the Third petty-bourgeois" dir. Abram Roma, "Jules and Jim" dir. Francois Truffaut.
By the way, that designation as a "Swedish family" is found only in Russia and some other post-Soviet States. In most European countries used the term in a literal translation from French means farming for three.
The birth of a stereotype
Where does this term come from in conservative Soviet Union is not known, but in the 70-ies of the last century, the concept of "Swedish family" was the main synonym of Sweden in the territory of the entire USSR. There was a stereotype that in this mysterious Scandinavian country cohabitation of several pairs is a common thing.
Maybe it's in the reached Union wave of the sexual revolution and rumors about members of the leftist Swedish youth who in those years did not differ puritanical behavior and behaved very frivolous. Scandinavian hippies did not recognize any family values and morals. Some of them actually lived groups, a kind of commune, promoting free love. In those same years, on television screens appears popular Swedish musical group ABBA, consisting of 2 couples. They are so sweet sang about love, what not to believe them, Soviet citizens could not.
Of course, the Swedes called conservatives in intimacy difficult. It is the only country in the world where sexual literacy began to be taught in school in the early 50-ies of the last century. Communication of spouses after divorce and spend time together "new" and "old" families for emancipated Swedes – a common occurrence. But it would be an exaggeration to say that in terms of building family relationships, they are somewhat different from the rest of Europe.
