Many in One Body (MOB):
An Inclusive, Plurality-Centered View of
Multiplicity
We believe that being Many in One Body (MOB) is not a disorder, but a creative way of
living. Some who are plurality-focused also believe that multiplicity is natural and that
multiples may be born as such, rather than having their multiplicity be caused by trauma, as
put forth by the current clinical perspective.
Since we cannot enter anyone else's mind, we cannot possibly know another multiple's reality.
We have known multiple households who identify as having hundreds or even thousands of
members. It is not our place to judge whether a multiple household of 10,000 is less likely
or valid than a multiple household of 10.
Likewise, we cannot possibly know that the origin of other people's multiplicity is anything
other than what they claim it to be, eg. born multiple rather than made multiple by
trauma.
However, we do acknowledge that the vast majority of known multiples identify as
survivors of trauma, and we cannot discount the role that trauma commonly plays in the
cause of multiplicity. It would do a great disservice to the multiple community at large to
ignore the importance of trauma recovery in the lives of multiples in general. At the same
time, we also acknowledge that some multiples do not identify as survivors or with
trauma-based or clinical models of multiplicity. It is each person's right to believe as
they will.
All of this having been said, we also wish to state that the origin of multiplicity is far
less of a concern to us than the need for the multiple community at large to be open to
diversity within; that division of the multiple community at large into "us" and "them" in
such a way as to weaken its solidarity is detrimental; and that only by remaining mindful of
our commonalities can we truly thrive as the unique beings that we are.
© June 11, 2000 by Mary E. Abode and Rachel R. Abode for The Gathering Place (http://www.gathering-place.org/). Revised July
28, 2001. May be copied only in its entirety and only with complete copyright and credit
information.
   
 
 
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