Polygamy

Introduction

Polygamy typically involves one husband with multiple wives and children from those relationships. In some countries, polygamy is legal and practiced, such as in Egypt, Iran, and Libya, all of which have limitations. Polygamy is illegal in Canada, Europe, and all 50 U.S. states. In cultures that practice polygamy, arrangements involving one man with multiple wives generally grants men more power and status than women for mothers, the care giving role is expected to be central in polygamous relationships.

Discussion and Analysis

Polygamy is marriage that involves multiple spouses, which is still permitted in many cultures (Cassidy, 11). The most common form of plural marriage is polygyny, which is the marriage of one man with more than one woman. Polygyny in many societies serves as an indicator of a man's wealth and prestige-in other words, the more wives he has, the greater status he accrues. In other societies, polygyny is practiced because a man has inherited a widow from his brother (levirate). Polygamous marriages are between one male and more than one female. Polygamy has been common throughout human history. Various preferred marriage patterns have an effect on the social outcomes of polygamy. For example, there are social implications for a preference for exogamy (marrying outside one's group), or endogamy (marrying within one's group). There are further implications associated with a preference for either parallel cousin marriage, or cross-cousin marriage, and whether or not sororal polygamy (marrying a group of sisters) is allowed or prohibited.

Polyandry is very rare compared with monogamy and polygamy. In polygamy, a female is married to more than one male. As in polygamy, there are social implications for the particular preferred marriage patterns in a society.

In still others, polygyny is a way to advance politically and economically. For polygyny to work there has to be some agreement among the wives about their status and household chores. Generally, there is a first wife or a senior wife who is in charge of the household and has some say-so regarding who is taken as another wife. For instance, among the Betsileo of Madagascar, each wife lived in a different village, but the senior, first wife, called “Big Wife”, lived in the primary village of her husband where he spent most of his time. Other customs like having separate living quarters for co wives who are not sister's helps lessen jealousy among the co wives. The Tanala of Madagascar requires the husband to spend one day with each co wife in succession and assist with cultivation of that wife's land. If this rule is not followed, a wife can sue for divorce and alimony up to a third of the husband's property. Such a practice gives co wives greater equality in matters of sex, possessions, and economics (Cassidy, 1).

Marriage between one woman and more than one man (polyandry) is extremely rare, although it is still practiced in Tibet and parts of the surrounding Himalayan region. In Tibet, fraternal polyandry (brothers jointly marrying a wife) is still practiced. Fraternal polyandry is one of ...