Polygamy: definitions, cultural contexts, and social implications

Polygamy began as a practice in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which was commonly known as the Mormon Church, between 1830s and 40s. The main reason why polygamy was common during the period was as a result of religion to multiply and replenish the earth. In 1890, plural marriages were prohibited by LDS, although the practice continued to exist in small subgroups. Polygamy is a relationship existing between either one husband and multiple wives or a woman and multiple husbands. In social anthropology, polygamy is defined as the practice of marriage to more than one spouse. Historically, polygamy was practiced as polygyny; one man or as polyandry; one woman having multiple husband. Studies showed that polygamy is one of the most contentious issues bearing on women and women's rights (Lyimo, 2001). Traditionally, polygamy was morally objectionable for various reasons, such as it fosters oppression of women.

In most countries, polygamy is not tolerated, and the laws are making the practice to be illegal. Furthermore, there are cultures that have absolutely no problem with accepting polygamy as being legal practice; as a result, there are no laws to prevent men from marrying more than one wife or women getting married to one husband. Research showed that children from polygamous families tend to be at a greater risk of many harmful effects. For instance, there is a research that children of polygamous families more often than not regularly experience a higher incidence of family violence, marital conflicts along with family disruptions as opposed to children of monogamous families. In addition, these children also happen to be at a greater risk of developmental and behavioral problems. In North America, Middle Eastern and African nations, polygamy appears to be mostly practiced, given that various cultural and religious backgrounds continue to encourage the practice. Currently, there has been growing concern and controversy in regards to polygamy across the world. In most countries where polygamy is traditionally practiced, there has been an increasing encouragement for the restraint of polygamy to protect women from abuse and support gender equality. In the United States, there is increasing concern about the practice of polygamy and other abuses of women and children in fundamentalist communities. These communities are composed of Christian, Jewish and Muslim believers.

Research also showed that polygamy is to date being practiced across the world as a result of religious reasons and cultural patterns. Africa seems today the continent where practice of polygamy is common. Most Africans and Americans reported that this form of marriage has been a major problem because it is a traditional custom that clashes with the Christian Worldview and having socio-economic functions (Hussein, 2002). Currently, girls are the most affected group in polygamous life; this is because they are victims of many polygamists. Most of these girls are deprived of their fundamental rights to get an education since they are forced to marry. As a result, majority of them are married at a young age which is canonically the legal minimum. In Islam, marriage is defined as a social bond between two parties; however it is not applicable until both the husband and wife approve it. Therefore, no woman is obligated to marry a married man. The main reason why polygamy is not permitted according to the Islamic teachings is that, it is an open alternative for both the two parties, and in cases where the first wife suffers from health conditions such as infertility and rigorous illness, they perceive polygamy to be a healthier way out as opposed to divorce.

Various studies showed that polygamy is officially and broadly practiced in more than five hundred societies worldwide. Polygamy has been the focus of a substantial argumentation in public and academic awareness throughout the past years. A number of studies came out all through, primarily focusing on the influence of polygamy on emotional, behavioral, and educational alteration of children. Similar to Christianity and Judaism, Islam tends not to present a clear prevention of the practice of having more than one wife at one time. Contrasting to Christianity, Islam handle the issue more clearly and offers definite certified requirements and restraints that quantity to the opposition of such a practice (Hussein, 2002). The reason for not prohibiting polygamy in Islam community is that, they assume that there may be certain circumstances which face individuals and societies at different periods, which construct polygamy a healthier resolution than separation. It is therefore obvious that polygamy in Islam is not biased; however it is based on serious misunderstanding. For many years, polygamy was practiced, often without limitations, in some cultures, and was therefore authorized by various religions and practices for many centuries from then on (Bailey & Kaufman, 2010).

Polygamy practice is significant because it has a positive effect on the population growth, however, the practice is also assumed to be harmful as well, especially to the health of women and children. Various interviews conducted with women In North America reveals that monogamous relationship may become polygamous in the future this is because women were seen to have little control over their husbands' marrying a second wife. In Africa, polygamy was practiced for many years despite the effects it had on families. Study also showed that the practice is still widely practiced in many societies in sub-Saharan Africa. Though, the practice has been the norm for the powerful and the rich, who are not content with one wife or two, it is also practiced by ordinary people who seem not to be powerful or rich (Hussein, 2002). Conversely, polygamy can provide many advantages to a society, children, and to the spouses. Many societies who practiced polygamy maintained that polygamy on a small scale provides protection for widows as well as, handicapped girls who might otherwise get no men or husbands. According to the people who practiced polygamy, they believed that polygamy can indeed contribute to the liberation of women. For instance, it helped solving various problems such as childlessness, widowhood along with taking care of the children of the deceased relatives. Almost all the societies practicing polygamy are convinced that polygamy has a significant advantage on them. Polygamy practices do not only include one area of life such as economic activities, however, it also includes other areas such as social, political and religious. Therefore, the people in society who practice polygamy believe that polygamy was suited to economic and social structures of their ancestors, therefore, it continuous to have economic and social advantages for them up-to-date (Bailey & Kaufman, 2010).