Kinship is a socially defined means that organizes
individuals into family units based on descent and marriage. Kinship and family is a cultural universal
and a product of the social nature of humans (and all primates for that
matter). Kinship patterns do vary by
culture, and what may be the norm in one culture may be atypical in
another. The topic of kinship is quite
broad as it covers a variety of matters related to familial relations (and what
is considered non relations). As such, today’s
blog post focuses on a topic of marriage patterns and types.
In American culture there is one typical and lawful marriage
type: monogamy, or the marriage of two individuals to each other and no others. This definition of monogamy is rather simple,
but it does not account for the wide variety of differences among cultures (and
even within our own culture) about which two individuals may and are allowed to
marry. Monogamous relationships can
include a man and a woman or two individuals of the same gender (e.g. man and
man or woman and woman). It was the norm
until recently in the United States that monogamous marriages were solely
between a man and a woman, but with the legalization of homosexual marriage
homosexuals may also marry.
Monogamy, however, is not the only type of marriage that
exists across the globe. Plural or
polygamous marriages also exist, and these involve the union of more than two
individuals. Another way to look at this
concept is to consider it as an individual with multiple spouses. There are two types of plural or polygamous
marriages: polyandry and polygyny.
Polyandry (poly, meaning many; andr, meaning men) refers to
a situation where a female has many male spouses. Polyandry is present among the various groups
or various socioeconomic organizational types (from foragers to state level
societies). A classic example of
polyandry exists among the Sherpa of Asia.
The purpose of polyandry among these people was related to inheritance
patterns and lack of land resources. In
this culture women inherited property and lands. There are few land resources available, so
women marry multiple men in order to have the men work the land, which is
mountainous and requires a great deal of “man power” to cultivate. In this way, the Sherpa are able to survive
in this harsh environment due to their polyandrous marriage patterns.
Polygyny (poly, meaning many; gyn, meaning women) involves a
male who has multiple female spouses.
This type of plural marriage is also quite common. It exists for several reasons, all of which
are dependent on the culture where polygyny exists. For some cultures it is a means of dealing
with an overabundance of females within the population. It can also be a status symbol or symbol of
wealth for men who can afford to have multiple spouses. Ultimately, though, it does appear to have
several advantages for females, as they can work together in matters involving
their husband, share childcare responsibilities, or negotiate the sexual nature
(or lack thereof) of their relationship with their husband. The Dani of Papua New Guinea practice
polygyny, which fulfills a demonstration of wealth and status for the men who
are able to support multiple wives.
Ultimately, while family and kinship is a cultural universal
there are several variations on this theme.
Not all cultures practice monogamy, instead opting for plural marriages
for various reasons (economic or social).
Ultimately, the marriage pattern(s) that exist within a particular
society and culture appear to be geographically as well as culturally dependent,
hence the variations among cultures.
This just demonstrates that no one way is the best way, and cultural
variations allow us to gain better insights into people.
Bibliography
Gezon,
L., & Kottak, C. (2014).
Cultural Anthropology
McGraw-Hill
Scheidel, W. 2008. "Monogamy and Polygyny in Greece, Rome, and World History." Princeton/Stanford Working Papers in Classics.
Schwimmer, B. 2003. "Polygyny." University of Manitoba. Website.
Starkweather, K.E. 2010. "Exploration Into Human Polyandry: An Evolutionary Examination of Non-Classical Cases." Masters Thesis. University of Nebraska.
Welsch, R.L. & L.A. Vivanco. (2015). Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity. Oxford University Press.
46 comments:
I wasn't aware that there were cultures in Asia with multiple male spouses. I knew about men having multiple female spouses but not the other. Cultures of the world are very interesting.
Your note on how polygyny can have benefits for the women involved is interesting; usually such arrangements are viewed as epitomes of misogyny (at least by 21st century western standards), however, I never really thought about any ways they could benefit the women involved.
You are on point with the notion that polygyny can be and is often viewed as misogynist, and in cultures such as our own the practice can be just that. In other cultures, however, it is about equality and quite beneficial to women, but this is where women and their roles in society and culture are valued and seen as equal but different from those of a man. We have not reached that level of equality in our culture-for men or women.
Since the purpose of polyandry is inheritance and not love, how then will the woman know the actual father of her children since she will be sleeping with all the spouse.
Excellent question, Kelechi. That actually is dictated by culture, as well. Typically, the primary husband is considered the father of all the children (regardless of biological evidence), but the other husbands take on child rearing responsibilities. Now you assume that she is sleeping with all the husbands, which may not be the case either. This would also limit the potential fathers if she abstains from sleeping with each of her husbands.
I always thought it was only the men who can have several spouse, not woman. I find it weird how the men takes care of another man child. something I learned in class about this topic.
-Aaliyah Caldwell
I'm happy we are starting to respect other forms of monogamy by accepting same sex marriage and on polygyny I find it kind of hard to think that everyone the man is married to is treated equal because that’s hard to believe but I guess I wouldn’t know and if it works it works.
There is Polyandry, for multiple husbands, and Polygyny, for multiple wives. However, I doubt those are the only types of polygamous marriages. I find it hard to believe that there isn't a type that consists of multiple spouses of both genders.
I find it very interesting learning and hearing about the many different types of relationships and how they benefit both of the parties involved only have ever hearing of monogamy and polygyny before this class.
I do not know of any official cultural versions of this concept (multiple spouses of various genders), but what you speak of most closely resembles polyamory.
it's so weird raising a kid not knowing if it's yours and you don't get to find out it wouldn't be as special of a bond knowing that the kid isn't yours but it doesn't matter in there culture
Polygamy is a relationship that has always aroused my curiosity as to how one can be in multiple relationships but maintain a "happy home" at the same time. Are the women involved also sexually attracted to each other as well or is that wrong then according to the said rules of polygamy?
This was a very interesting blog. What really caught my attention was that polyandry is a name for women having multiple spouses. Usually you'll call a woman with multiple male friends something different.
Like so many others have mentioned, you always hear about the marriages with multiple wives but until this class I had never really heard of or given much thought to marriages with multiple husbands. I also kind of wondered the same thing as Betsy about marriages with multiple spouses of different genders. - Shannon
I have not read or heard of any scenarios where the women (or men) have sexual relations with each other, but I wouldn't say that it does not happen. It ultimately depends on each individual's preferences, as well as whether or not consent is given. In cases where it is culturally taboo the participants probably keep their personal lives private.
In our culture, yes, that has been said, but in other cultures there are not the same taboos against multiple partners that exist here in American culture.
After reading this, I never knew that women could have multiple spouses because its always talked about how men have multiple spouses. In our society, women who have multiple partners/spouses at the same time are often called degrading names so for there to actually be traditions in other cultures for women to have multiple spouses is very interesting and I wonder if the women in these cultures are seen as the women in our society and culture when it comes to having multiple spouses. -Brianne Pickett
I always knew things like polgyny and polyandry were practiced but never knew people still did it i had always assumed that it was a thing that just happened in certain areas of the world and then just died off.
Never knew that women in some cultures can marry more than one man. Always knew men could but women no ideal. I would have never known until I read this blog. very interesting.
Ainya Lomax Soc.412
I have never of women having many husbands, but I always heard of men having many wives. I wonder where did this idea come from, like what made someone say hey i want 10 wives/husbands?
I have read on these types of relationships in an Anthropology class and it was quite interesting.
I find it fascinating that in some cultures a man stepping out of his marriage is seen as "normal", but he's forbidden from being legally married to multiple women.
I think marriage with multiple wives isn't morally right to me personally since I grew up in America but I do have an understanding on why other cultures practice that.
- Arthur Holloway
There is usually a social/cultural reason for this practice. For example, a man with multiple wives is often identified as having higher status and wealth because he can afford his multiple spouses. Another example is from Asia (exact location escapes me) where land and property is traced matrilineally, and there are few women as compared to men. Women are not allowed to work the land, so they must marry multiple men as a result because the women have large land holdings that they men cannot own or work.
With having multiple spouses as if you were a male with many females or a female with multiple males in a relationship do you think that in their culture it was hard on the kids relating to who their true father or mother was or were they in the route of looking up to them as they were all leaders it didn't matter?
In all actuality, kids demonstrate no negative or ill effects. This practice is quite similar to our American practices of blended families where parents divorce and remarry (sometimes once and sometimes multiple times).
In my religion it is okay for a man to have more than one wife so I'm use to hearing about men having multiple wives. But I'll have to pass, I'm definitely not with the sharing my man thing.
Tiffany Heavens
- I watched a show about polygamy it was called escaping polygamy. I saw how serious it was for the children to try and escape it. I am shocked that women can do the same in certain cultures. This post was very informative.
Is polyandry practice in the United States ?
Based on what you learned in the blog do you think or know of any instances where it is? :)
Monogamous relationships can include a man and a woman or two individuals of the same gender. I think marriage should only be with a man & a woman but it's different strokes for different folks.
One thing that I really like about this culture is that they don't care if a child isn't theirs, they will still treat the kid with the same respect that they treat their own kids with.
I didnt know that females from different parts of Asia were able to have different spouses. Do you agree with a women having different spouses?
-Daisha Benton
Marriage types are different among many cultures, but is this mainly due to religious practices?
Women having multiple spouses is out of the norm for our culture. Women would most likely be frowned upon for doing something like that.
I didn't know that there were societies in Asia with different male mates. I thought about men having numerous female companions however not the other. Societies of the world are exceptionally intriguing
Over my cultural speech for public speaking I chose my topic to be the fa'afafine of the samoan culture. I was fascinated on how their views on marriage, and just their roles in marriage.
Amber Barnes
I never really understood how people could live in any polygamy relationship. I could only imagine the difficulty of keeping each spouse happy. Not only that but is America the only country that allows same sex marriage? If not how long have other countries allowed them?
The US is not the only country to allow same sex marriage. Several other countries preceding the US, as well as others that have just legalized it this year. :)
I found this interesting and I wanted to know about Amish marriage practices because I know they don't follow the same ones we do in the United States and I'm not exactly sure how we differ do they have multiple partners or just 1 or maybe just allowed to have 2. -Malachi Brewer
I have always been aware of polygamous marriages but not Polyandry where it involves a woman having many spouses. That may be normal in other places but here, a woman with more than one spouse whether they are married or just in a relationship this kind of woman would be described as a "slut" or many other negative terms. In this case I don't feel like its okay for a women to be able to do the same thing as a man would referring to having more than one spouse.
-Apreshana Page
It is interesting that I came across this blog today because this was a discussion that we just had on campus in another course. Polygamy is not a personal choice that I would make for myself, but i do not think any less of others who this marriage style works for. Polyandry is not a term that I hear often. In most cases you hear about a male having multiple women, not the other way around, so I did learn quite a bit from this blog.
Kahla Perry
This is interesting. I first learned about the many different types of marriage types when I first attended college. I use to think it was only between two people.
I enjoyed reading this post, it answered a question that I had for the longest which was is there a marriage where the women can have multiple husbands. I find it odd that I have never heard of Polyandry before. I feel like although monogamy relations are the most common, polygamous marriages are becoming more and more culturally acceptable where I live. I also think a big part of this is from it been overly sexualize. what I mean by this is that people my age are glorifying this practice for all the wrong reasons which is to have sexual relations amongst each other. I read in another post that people who really practice polygamy, the wives aren't even allowed to have sexual encounters with each other.
It’s interesting when reading this because In other countries things like polygamy or polyandry are normal. While we are in this country focusing on monogamy, and being with one woman and one man. I know personally this is something I am a firm believer in. To know that a man that is practicing polygyny shows wealth class in when it amazing .
-Jazlyn Logan
i just cant get with this. why do you need multiple spouses?? that so gross. you shouldn't to share yourself with multiple people.
-Kyla Thomas
So places in asia have it to where women can have multiple male spouses? I feel like when these situations come about it can lead to someone leading a sex cult. I never have agreed with this way of living but im respectful to opinions and practices of others.
Christopher McFadden
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