“Situationships” are usually romantic or sexual relationships that live in a gray area between casual and committed, sometimes between a friendship and romantic partnership. Situationships are relationships that (Cleveland Clinic, 2023):
- Don’t have a mutually agreed upon “label”
- Can be confusing to one or both parties involved
- Often have fewer boundaries or parameters
- Put an emphasis on physical intimacy
- Often include irregular or inconsistent communication
- Don’t have clear obligations, exclusivity, or commitment
If you are comfortable and consent to a lack of formalized and discussed boundaries for your relationship, that is totally fine (hopefully it is fun and enjoyable!). You can also consent to that for a period of time and then decide later that you would like more clarity about the relationship. There is nothing inherently wrong with situationships unless it is negatively affecting you. Problems arise when a party is not comfortable with, and does not consent to, being in a situationship. If that is the case, communication is key.
Initiating a conversation with the other person in a situationship can be hard, scary, and vulnerable. For a more detailed guide on how to approach these conversations, check out our infosheet on having Curious and Courageous Conversations.
For more information about consent, check out the Further Reading section for an article from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Potential Pros and Cons of Situationships
| PROS | CONS |
| Lack of time obligation | One-sidedness |
| No commitment (can be a pro or con) | Feeling undervalued |
| Flexible | Mixed signals |
| Fun | Lack of transparency |
| Freedom to explore | Limited long-term planning |
| Excitement in ambiguity | Emotional insecurity and vulnerability |
A Moment to Reflect…
What are some other pros and/or cons you’ve experienced in situationships?
If you find yourself in a situationship, reflect on if your needs are being met. Is the dynamic healthy for you? Does it align with your values? Do you feel safe and respected?
What would you need from the other person in order to healthily engage in a situationship?
Campus Spotlight:
Laurentian University organizes a Consent Awareness Week for campus community members to engage in discussions focused on consent, healthy relationships and sexual violence response and prevention. Throughout the week, they have booths with activities, lunch and learn, training for faculty, staff and students, self-defense classes, and more.
