Short Essay on Polygamy ( Words) Article shared by. Here is your essays on Polygamy: In modern industrialized societies where divorce laws have become easier—man or a woman will not necessarily remain as life partner for the whole life. Because of religious prescription and ethical notions, plurality of spouses is resented and they continue to re-marry and live with single wife or husband—a situation Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins Polygamy Essay Words | 7 Pages. Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse and is culturally accepted in many parts of the world, but is illegal in the United States. There are two well known forms of polygamy, both of which are still presently practiced in numerous cultures globally, polygyny and polyandry · This essay will discuss how polygamy and incest-based marriage is diametrically opposed to my own personal views on matrimony and marriage. This essay will also discuss the role of bride wealth or dowry in our society today. Finally this essay will examine Herzog's () film that captured the mating rituals of the Wodabbe culture in Central Africa
The Effect of Polygamy on the Modern Society - Words | Essay Example
The practice of being married to more than one wife is referred to as polygyny. On the other hand, a marriage relationship in which a woman has more than one husband is referred to as polyandry. Generally, polygyny is very common in most parts of the world, polygamy essay. By contrast, polyandrous marriages are very rare. Polygamy is one of the oldest cultural practices that are likely to persist throughout the 21 st century, polygamy essay. Despite being criminalized in the western world, as well as, some African and Asian countries, men continue to embrace plural marriages.
Those who oppose polygamy believe that it polygamy essay an outdated cultural practice that leads to social deprivation and antagonism in the family. However, those who support polygamy perceive it as a solution to social and cultural issues such as prostitution and adultery. This paper will discuss the arguments for and against polygamy. The discussion will consider cultural, economic, evolutionary, polygamy essay, social, and legal perspectives on polygamy. The evolutionary perspective indicates that polygyny has always been part of the human history.
The Bible and the Quran indicate that famous religious leaders such as Abraham, King Solomon, King David, and Prophet Muhammad were polygynous Milton Some psychologists and evolution scientists argue that polygamy is innate among men Milton Thus, polygamy essay, men get involved in plural marriages as a response to their natural desires rather than to commit a crime. Empirical studies indicate that polygyny has a positive correlation with the extent to which the males of various animal species are larger or taller than their female counterparts Milton Specifically, polygyny is high among animal species whose males are significantly larger than their female counterparts and vice versa.
This means that human beings are naturally polygamy essay albeit at a low level, polygamy essay. As a result, men have to compete for women in order polygamy essay satisfy their reproductive needs.
In this regard, the following arguments have been used to oppose polygamy. First, polygamy essay, tall or big men have greater mating opportunities than short men. This argument is based on the premise that big men can provide better physical protection to women than short men Milton The resulting competition for women leads to unbalanced distribution of mating partners.
Big men have several wives, whereas short men remain without mating partners, polygamy essay. Second, the competition for women leads to criminal activities Zeitzen Short men who face difficulties in finding wives have to use all connections and alliances to get married.
This leads to early booking of women and underage marriages. For example, young men from the Maasai community in Kenya have to book their wives as early as the age of 10 years due to competition for women. As a result, polygamy essay, women polygamy essay dominated and have no freedom to choose their husbands.
Third opponents of polygamy argue that human beings are capable of controlling their natural desires. For instance, history has shown that there are thousands of men all over the polygamy essay who are able to remain faithful to their wives. Thus, polygamy should not be allowed. Based on the evolutionary perspective, decriminalization of polygamy is supported by the following arguments.
To begin with, polygamy essay, the argument that men are capable of controlling their mating desires is unfounded, polygamy essay. The history of western countries reveals that monogamy polygamy essay to increased cases of fornication, adultery, and divorce among married people Bennion These problems can be avoided if polygamy is decriminalized to enable consenting men and women to have as many spouses as they wish. The argument polygamy essay only tall or big polygamy essay can find wives is not practical.
Indeed, there are thousands of women who polygamy essay married to short men. For example, several men among the Pygmy communities in Congo have married women from other tribes in the country who are twice their height. In addition, most women in Nigeria marry short men as long as they are wealthy.
Ultimately, the decision on who to marry is determined by love rather than the size of a prospective marriage partner Bennion This means that polygamy does not create dangerous competition for women. National census in most African and Arab countries shows that the number of women exceeds that of men. Thus, polygamy helps in reducing the number of women who are not able to find husbands. Although polygamy can result into competition for women in societies such as China where the number of men exceeds that of women, it is not likely to lead to criminal activities.
In the 21 st century, most countries are ruled by laws that apply to all citizens Milton Thus, any criminal activity that might arise as men try to find women can always polygamy essay prevented through the legal system. The most important cultural and religious arguments against polygamy include the following, polygamy essay. First, most European countries and the US believe that polygamy is a backward culture that should not be practiced in the modern society Bennion Most western cultures associate polygamy with oppression of women.
Specifically, polygyny is considered to be undesirable because it denies women exclusive access to their husbands. Second, polygamy contravenes the principles of the culture of capitalism that dominates the US and European countries. Capitalism is informed by the principles of the Protestant ethic that promote frugality and efficiency both at the individual and business level.
Thus, polygamy is undesirable in the western culture because of its financial implications. Third, Christians believe that polygamy is prohibited by the Bible, polygamy essay. This belief is based on the fact that the New Testament urges Christians to be married to one partner Zeitzen polygamy essay Thus, having more than one spouse at the same time is a polygamy essay that is punishable.
As a result, Christians all over the world strive to remain faithful to their wives or husbands, polygamy essay. Their argument is based on the fact that the Quran states that whoever marries more than one wife must treat all his wives equally Zeitzen Specifically, a polygynous man must not favor any of his wives at the expense of the others.
Undoubtedly, this condition is not achievable since human beings are inherently biased. Men will always have preferences rather than being neutral when faced with a choice of more than one woman. The argument that polygamy is a backward cultural practice lacks substance. Polygamy has polygamy essay been part of most African and Asian Cultures that are held in high esteem.
For instance, in Nigeria and Kenya having more than one wife is a symbol of social status, polygamy essay. Undoubtedly, only wealthy men can afford to maintain several women and their children. In South Africa, the current polygamy essay has three wives.
Similarly, most Chinese leaders in the 19 th century had several wives. Thus, the perspective that polygamy is a backward culture is an ethnocentric perspective that the western world has to overcome as a sign of respect to other cultures, polygamy essay. The Christians who believe that polygamy is a sin forget that the Old Testament had several examples of people who were polygamous.
Although biblical leaders such as Polygamy essay and King David were polygynous, they were blessed rather than condemned Milton In Nigeria and Philippines where Christianity has been adapted to local beliefs and traditions, polygamy is increasingly being accepted by Christians. The argument that the Quran prohibits polygamy is incorrect. It is based on radical interpretation of the Quran rather than a clear understanding of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
The impartiality requirement was included in the teachings about polygamy essay to encourage men to avoid abandoning or mistreating some of their wives. If Prophet Mohammad was against polygamy, he could not have practiced it in the first place. Moreover, he could have provided explicit teachings rather than intuitions to discourage polygamy. Indeed, the impartiality requirement was meant to strengthen polygamy rather than to discourage it. For example, in Saudi Arabia where Islam is the main religion marrying up to four wives in the norm among Imams and laymen, polygamy essay.
In the US and the UK, polygamy is discouraged because it is associated with low quality of life. Most western countries are highly urbanized. People have to depend on the income obtained from formal employment instead of farming to sustain their families.
Thus, polygamy essay, men are increasingly facing financial constraints, which in turn diminish the desirability of polygyny, polygamy essay. As a result, children from polygamous families are expected to have low educational attainment and poor health status. In African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, polygamy is associated with poverty. Most western non-governmental organizations that provide relief services in Africa argue that poverty can be reduced if the communities abandon polygamy.
This argument is based on the premise that monogamy reduces fertility rate, thereby polygamy essay a decline in population growth. As a result, households will be spending their income on investments instead of feeding large families Bennion This leads to reduction of poverty at the household level.
Reduction in population growth will also polygamy essay governments in African countries to shift their resources from social safety net projects to development projects.
The resulting increase in economic growth will improve the GDP per capita. The arguments that discourage polygamy based on economic considerations fail to take into account the realities of most African and Asian countries. Countries such as Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are characterized by agrarian and pastoralist communities that depend on subsistence farming.
Free and reliable labour is central to the success of subsistence farming. Thus, local communities have to marry several women who bear a lot of children to work in the farmlands or to take care of livestock Bennion This shows that polygamy is a source of wealth rather than a cause of poverty.
Criminalizing polygamy does not result into a low population growth rate. For instance, the population of China has not declined despite the fact that the country prohibited polygamy over forty years ago.
In most African countries, polygamy essay, monogamous families continue to have as many as twelve children. Thus, poverty should be addressed through increased investments in development projects.
We Have the Perfect Polygamous Relationship - This Morning
, time: 6:16The Disadvantages Of Polygamy, Essay Sample
A Review of Elizabeth Joseph's Essay My Husband's Nine Wives on the Positive Aspects of Polygamy Band Polygamy 1 Page In “My husband’s nine wives”, Elizabeth Joseph presents the positives aspects of Polygamy. Joseph describes her lifestyle as a wife in a Polygamus relationship Words3 Pages Polyandry is a form of bigamy or polygamy where it is the wife who has more than one husband. There are a few cultures that practice polyandry, like the Nyinba people of Nepal who practices fraternal polyandry. This means that when a woman · This essay will discuss how polygamy and incest-based marriage is diametrically opposed to my own personal views on matrimony and marriage. This essay will also discuss the role of bride wealth or dowry in our society today. Finally this essay will examine Herzog's () film that captured the mating rituals of the Wodabbe culture in Central Africa
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