Family

Polygamous households

Shaowen Chen

History of Polygamy
Speaking of Polygamy, the history of it
goes back to a long way. Although it is has
been a common practice for hundreds of
years, no one really knows the very first time
polygamy was first practiced. Polygamy was
accepted in the Hebrew society. There is a
saying shows that it happened in the Africa
and early China. The polygamy was also
emerged in the West African continent, the
ancient Greece, India, Polynesia, and the
Native Americans.

Forms and major participants of

Polygamy
There are three specific forms:
1st: Polygyny
A man has more than one simultaneous
spouses;
2nd: Polyandry
A woman has more than one simultaneous
spouses
3rd: Group marriage
The family unit consists of multipe wives
and multiple husbands.
Polygyny is the most common.

Roles and Status

1.

Polygyny is the practice that a man has multiple wives at

the same time. This kind of polygamous marriages in which men

sought to monopolize the production of women who are valued
both as child bearers and as workers. In many marriages of
polygyny, the wives live in different households. They can thus
be described as a "series of linked nuclear families with a
'father' in common"

A video about Polygyny

2.

Polyandry is the practice that a woman has multiple

husband at the same time. Fraternal polyandry occurs when

two or more brothers have the same wife at the same time.
Non-fraternal polyandryrefers when the wives husbands are
separate. They are unrelated. Under this situation, before
puberty, women must experiences a ritual marriage, and then
the man is acknowledged as the father of all her children. She
can take multiple lovers and may never cohabit with him .
These husbands must paying the midwife and acknowledge
the paternity of their children
A video about
polyandry

3.

Group marriage is a marriage that a family unit

consists of multiple spouses. They live together and share

their parental responsibility for all children who is arising
from the relationship of marriage. Group marriage is a form
of non-monogamy and polyandry.

Polygamous households
emerge in many areas.

Polygamy is legal
Legal status unknown
Polygamy is only legal
for Muslims
Polygamy is illegal, but practice is not criminalised
Polygamy is illegal and practice criminalised

Societys perspective
Due to the fact that it represents an aspect of their religion
and culture, the polygamy has emerged around the African.
Polygamous families have been more present in the history of
Africa like no other continent in the world. The children were
seen as a form of wealth and a family that has more children was
seen as more powerful in African societies. It is one of the reasons
why polygamy happened.
Polygamy is seen to socially unacceptable and it is illegal in the
United States. Polygamy is often associated with Mormon faith,
although in 1890 the Mormon Church officially renounced polygamy.
Fundamentalist Mormons, such as those in the Fundamentalist
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS).
The polygamy is seen to be a crime in most European
countries. Polygamy can be punished. Therefore, people are
going to try to get married with multiple spouses is seen as a form
of mistreatment of women. It is going to get into a lot of trouble.

Polygamous households own opinions

Positive
opinions

Lots of Muslim women in the UK choose to have a polygamous

family. They think to get together with a big family is better for
them and their children. They enjoy making friends with other
women and sharing their husband with others.
You will realize that the more love you give away when you
love more than one person. Give a baking hot heart to more
than one person. Love in polygamous marriage is something
beyond the warmth and glow the excitement and romance of
marriage.
-monogamous
Different with
common thought, most women benefit from
polygamous families. It is because polygamous households allow
women to share a resourceful man of high social standing.

Negative
opinions
- "The only way that I can explain it is like living with adultery
on a daily basis, and having the woman come home.
- A multiple household must bring more pressure to a man.
Men who practiced polygamy had grater risk of heart disease
and other diseases
- Polygamous households produce injustices and inequalities
for people and limit the success of societies which permit it.

Improve the polygamy

In my opinion, I do not agree that people can have
multiple partners at the same time. Of course, for some
people, there is nothing wrong with polygamy. If we insist that
there are some way can improve this kind of institution, then I
would let more people know about the benefits of polygamous
households. There are some suggestions for polygamous
households.
For husbands:
- Simple - Equal financial treatment, equal time
- You must also be able to fulfill the sexual desire of all your wives,
not ever compare them and not allow disrespect between them.
For
wives:
- Be
patient with your husband and his other wives.
- Help each other if they need.
- Not to take sides. All of you share the same
husband. Beneficial for you to stay together.

Functionalism
There is a broader definition of family: A family
is a kinship system of all relatives living together
family, or recognized as a social unit, including
adopted people. Polygamous households are still
able to perform the functions of a family.
According to the Functionalism, each part of a
family works together as a system. The different
part has a different function. A man who marries
with multiple women has extra duties to take care
multiple wives and their children. Multiple wives
work together to raise their children. Children get
more support during their growth process. In
addition, many women in the society stay
economic privation. Polygamy would improve this
situation. Larger families would provider more
workers for society. It would promote the
development of society and economy.

Conflict Perspective

The conflict perspective describes the injustices and

inequalities. In most of the polygamous families, gender
inequality is seen. The conflict perspective recognizes
that husbands exercised authority and power within the
family. Women usually have no say in the matter. In
addition, in many areas, including the America,
monogamy is the only legal form of marriage. Most of
the people were not willing to share their lover. People
would get jealous when they see their lover show more
concern for other partners. It is not good for the
development of harmonious families. Similarity, for
husbands, more than one wife would be too stressful
and expensive. In this kind of families, wives have less
work and learning opportunities. Husbands really do
need to take more responsibility. It would result in
economic imbalances. To society, a man who can marry
with multiple wives should have a good economic
condition. Most of the women prefer the rich. If rich
men own too many wives, the marriage opportunities of

Work Citation
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Bashshr. "Why Does a Man Look for a Second Wife?"
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<http%3A%2F%2Fen.islamtoday.net%2Fartshow-418-3010.htm>.
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Bleedingheartlibertarians. N.p.,
29 June 2015. Web. 24 July 2016.
<http://bleedingheartlibertarians.com/2015/06/why-notpolygamy/>.
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<http://family-studies.org/the-problems-with-polygamy/>.

Work Citation
Martinuk, Susan. "Polygamy Harmful and Must Be Fought."
Calgary Herald. 27 Dec. 2013: A.10. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web.
24 Jul.
2016. "These Polyamorous Parents Put Controversial
ABCNews.
Spin on Child- Rearing." YouTube. YouTube, 24 July 2015. Web.
24 July 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=P0SOCcRWrrE>.
ABCNews. "Polyamory: 1 Mom, 2 Dads and a
Baby." YouTube.
YouTube, 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 24
July 2016.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=b7G0acYVjSU>.