Polygamy

Dynamics of Marriage and Family 3(3+0)

Polygamy

In this type of marriage a man/woman marries more than one woman/man at a given time. In other words, a person marries more than one spouse of the opposite sex. Polygamy is reported to be of two types that is :

  1. Polygyny: In this type of marriage, a man marries more than one woman (wife) at a given time. Polygyny is further of two types:
    1. Sororal Polygyny: It is a type of marriage in which a man is simultaneously married to one or more of his wife’s sisters. The most common form is a man marrying the eldest sister first then eventually marrying her younger sisters. It is usually observed among the Naga, Gond, Baiga, Bhil and Toda communities of India.

      Sororate:
      The Latin word ‘Soror’ stands for “Sister”. It refers to the marriage where a man marries the sister of his dead or barren (inability to bear children) wife.

    2. Non-Sororal Polgyny: It is a type of marriage in which wives are not related as sisters. Islam approves of non-sororal polgyny. A Muslim man can have as many as four living wives at a time, provided that they all are treated as equals. In Hindu Mythology, it is seen in Ramayana. Father of Ram, King Dasharath, had three wives.

Reasons behind the origin or prevalence of polygyny:
Today Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, has legally prohibited polygyny among all those who are governed by it. Still, certain communities like Muslims and other tribes have the liberty to practice it. There are numerous factors like biological, ecological, cultural etc. that have led to the emergence or prevalence of polygynous marriage among few tribes and communities of India. Those are:

  • In the primitive societies, high male mortality from warfare, feuding, occupational accident and disease led to an imbalance of females outnumbering males. Since, the rate of male mortality was high; it was not possible to allow some women to remain unmarried. Every woman was required to procreate children. Thus, this system suited those societies, not only because of the excess of women over men, but also because it strengthened them numerically.
  • In some societies man is prohibited to have sexual relation with his wife while she is menstruating, pregnant or breast feeding. This form of lengthy abstinence from sex with wife creates the need for second marriage.
  • The barrenness of wife or inability to produce son for salvation was also one of the main reason for going for subsequent marriages.
  • In some societies number of women a man possesses or the size of the family he has is the index of social prestige.
  • In certain societies man requires to marry more women to get help in agriculture work and to protect their property. It is a means to get cheap and reliable labour in the form of wives and children.
  • Certain prevailing customs like levirate also forces the widow of elder brother to marry the younger brother even if he is married.

Reasons behind decline in the practice of polygyny: Besides, legal prohibition, polygyny practice is seen to decline because of the following reasons:

  • The belief that one should procreate a son to attain salvation or to provide him support in the old age is declining.
  • Low income and desire to maintain high standard of living makes it difficult to afford more than one wife and children from each wife.
  • It conflicts with the numerical equality of the sexes; female sense of proprietorship; dignity and general welfare of the wife and best interests of the offspring.
  • Economic and social independence of females has made them refuse man’s dominance over them in the form of polygyny.
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Last modified: Tuesday, 27 March 2012, 8:18 AM