polygamy argumentative essay

The Pros and Cons of Polygamy

Would legalizing polygamy increase people's freedom, or limit it.

Posted July 24, 2015

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With gay marriage now legal nationwide, many (like William Baude in the New York Times ) are now wondering if legalized polygamy may be next, and some (like Fredrik Deboer in Politico ) are suggesting that it should be.

As Baude points out in his op-ed , polygamy should remain illegal because it would increase gender inequality and social instability:

"Judge Richard A. Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected a right to plural marriage because it would lead to gender imbalances if ‘the five wealthiest men have a total of 50 wives.’ Similarly, the same-sex marriage advocate Jonathan Rauch has argued that polygamy allows ‘high-status men to hoard wives’ and destabilizes society."

Note that Posner and Rauch are assuming that the most common type of legal polygamous marriage would be one husband with multiple wives (polygyny), as opposed to one wife with multiple husbands ( polyandry ). They’re also not considering more complex types of plural marriage (e.g. multi-male multi-female), or homosexual plural marriage. (Nor will I consider these two latter types here; they're relevant but beyond the scope of this post.)

Is it safe to assume that most polygamous heterosexual marriage would indeed involve one husband with multiple wives? Probably, as this chimes with the evidence about how people tend to mate cross-culturally . Historically, polygamy was permitted in the vast majority of cultures; in these cultures, polygyny was far more common than polyandry. Still, even within cultures that permit polygyny, it is much less common than monogamous marriage, in part because it can be difficult to attract more than one spouse, even if you'd want to . (Note also that polyandry rates may be underestimated in the anthropological record .)

Why is polygyny more common than other forms of plural marriage? Because of how humans are psychologically adapted for mating . The evolutionary reproductive benefits of having more than one spouse were higher for men than women. In 1972 [1], biologist Robert Trivers outlined the foundational reason for this: For men more than women, reproductive success is limited by number of mates. A man with many wives can produce many children per nine months, whereas a woman can usually produce only one, whether she has one husband or 100. Females certainly may obtain other kinds of reproductive benefits (like resources for their own children) from mating with multiple males, but these benefits are less straightforward than actual additional offspring. Relatedly, the reproductive costs of having more than one spouse are lower for women than for men. If a man's wife becomes pregnant by his co-husband, he'll have to wait a long time—nine months plus an inter-birth interval that in hunter-gatherer societies averages 3.25 years [2]—for his turn to reproduce. If a woman's husband impregnates her co-wife, he can immediately impregnate her, too. She may suffer other reproductive costs from having to share a husband (like receiving a smaller proportion of his resources for her own children), but these costs are less severe than not being able to reproduce at all for four years.

Because our minds were designed by these evolutionary environments, men—cross-culturally and on average—are more motivated to acquire multiple mates [3], and seem more averse to sharing a spouse, compared to women. That said, forms of polyandry are certainly observed anthropologically, and are quite common in some societies, so it would be misguided to suggest that it is "contrary to human nature." It would be more accurate to say that the evolved psychological mechanisms in men and women that lead to polygyny are activated under a wider range of environments than are the mechanisms that lead to polyandry.

So it seems reasonable to assume that if polygamy were legal, most polygamous marriage would indeed take the form of polygyny. We can also assume that given roughly equal sex ratios, polygyny could lead to the kinds of gender imbalances described above, with some men who were more attractive (in terms of overall mate value) having multiple wives, and some less-attractive males going wife-less or having to share a mate with other men.

Would such outcomes be a problem? Possibly. Many people would regard them as being unfair or exploitive of women in polygynous marriages, or to men unable to attract a wife of their own. Another convincing argument is that societies with too many unmated men tend to suffer from social instability due to intensified male-male mating competition . Given these potential problems, why would it be a good idea to legalize polygamy?

Maybe the simplest and most compelling argument in favor of legalization is that it would enhance people's freedom to choose their own mates. No one on either side of the debate suggests that it should be legal to coerce anyone into a polygamous marriage. Jonathan Rauch's comment (above) that polygyny allows "high-status men to hoard wives" suggests wives being collected like possessions, but this overlooks the fact that in many cultures, women in polygynous marriages actively choose to enter them—and the same goes for men in most polyandrous marriages. If the government prohibits people from choosing to marry polygamously, this is the equivalent of telling them that instead of marrying their preferred partner, they must instead marry someone they would otherwise not choose, or else not marry at all.

So it does seem that by prohibiting polygamy between consenting adults, we restrict people's ability to choose their own mate(s). However this doesn't mean making it legal is a good idea. Personal freedom is not the only value we should strive to maximize, of course, and there may be a greater social good served by keeping polygamy illegal. Would the potential costs of legalizing polygamy—such as reduced gender equality, increased numbers of low-status unmarried men, decreased social stability, or some other unmentioned problem—exceed the potential benefits?

Feel free to share your thoughts with a comment below.

Trivers, R. L. 1972. Parental investment and sexual selection. In B. Campbell, ed. Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man , 1871-1971, Aldine-Atherton, Chicago, pp. 136-179.
Marlowe, F. W., & Berbesque, J. C. (2012). The human operational sex ratio: effects of marriage, concealed ovulation, and menopause on mate competition. Journal of Human Evolution , 63, 834-842.
Schmitt, D. P. (2005). Sociosexuality from Argentina to Zimbabwe: A 48-nation study of sex, culture, and strategies of human mating. Behavioral and Brain Sciences , 28, 247-275.

Michael Price, Ph.D. is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Brunel University London.

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The Pros and Cons of Polygamy Essay

Polygamy continues to elicit mixed reactions in most societies, with a number of opponents arguing the demerits of such unions, while the proponents argue its merits. Although a number of merited arguments for polygamy have been put forward over the years, there is no denying that the negative impact of such a practice on the concerned women and children outweigh its potential benefits.

Polygamous marriages are common in the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and Africa, although they are also observable in North America, Europe and other Western countries. Polygamy usually occurs in a number of forms, either as polygyny, polyandry or polygynandry, although polygyny is usually the most common form. The practice normally raises a number of ethical and moral questions, especially regarding the degree of accountability and responsibility individuals involved in such marriages have towards their many spouses and children if any. In addition, such marriages, common in certain cultures, challenge the universal and legal notion of marriage: that it is a legal union between one man and one woman.

As such, a majority of opponents to such unions argue that they are not only illegal, but also subject the multiple spouses and children to unnecessary psychological and social strain. However, in societies that value polygamy, proponents equate the multiple spouses and children to wealth, even going to the extent of advocating for its legalization.

Proponents of polygamy argue that in addition to the obvious benefits such as the easy sharing of chores and child rearing, polygamy also offers an alternative to divorce in cases of infertility. Furthermore, certain religions such as Mormon fundamentalists advocate for the practice, similar to a number of cults, cultures and religion, on the basis of subjective beliefs and values. For instance, Mormons believe that marrying 3 wives guarantees a higher status in the spiritual realm, hence making it part of their religious practices. Therefore, proponents of polygamy argue that it should be legalized, as not doing so amounts to undermining their beliefs, practices and values.

In order to protect the sanctity of marriage and safeguard women against any form of exploitation, a majority of opponents to polygamy are advocating against the practice. Most of such advocates argue that it not only undermines the concept of loyalty in marriage and serves to deny the multiple spouses their individual rights, but may also deny potential offspring the opportunity to grow up in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Furthermore, in most cases, due to the huge number of children often born in such families, a majority are not well taken care of, missing out on very basic amenities. In addition, such opponents also point to research findings that indicate that children and wives in polygamous families are likely to experience a number of psychological and social impacts. Particularly, it was found to lead to co-wife jealousy, unequal distribution of emotional and household resources, as well as competition among others. Polygamy is also associated with an increased number of cases of mental illness as well as other emotional, behavioral and physical problems amongst women and children.

Al-Krenawi, A., & Slonim-Nevo, V. (2008). Psychosocial and familial functioning of children from polygynous and monogamous families. The Journal of Social Psychology , 148 (6), 745+. Web.

Duncan, E. J. (2008). The positive effects of legalizing polygamy: “love is a many splendored thing”. Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy , 15 (2), 315+. Web.

Tabi, M., Doster, C., & Cheney, T. (2010). A qualitative study of women in polygynous marriages. International Nursing Review , 57 (1), 121-127. Web.

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The Case Against Encouraging Polygamy

Why civil marriage should not encompass group unions

Now that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, writer Freddie de Boer wants its proponents to adopt a new focus. “ Where does the next advance come?” he asks in an essay at Politico. “Now that we’ve defined that love and devotion and family isn’t driven by gender alone, why should it be limited to just two individuals? The most natural advance next for marriage lies in legalized polygamy.”

The time is ripe, he argues, in part because there’s no longer a strategic reason to hold off. “To advocate for polygamy during the marriage equality fight may have seemed to confirm the socially conservative narrative, that gay marriage augured a wholesale collapse in traditional values,” he observes. “But times have changed; while work remains to be done, the immediate danger to marriage equality has passed.”

He proceeds to argue that “the case against polygamy is incredibly flimsy, almost entirely lacking in rational basis and animated by purely irrational fears and prejudice.” And he goes further, insisting that even if there are pragmatic reasons to deny state-sanction to polygamous marriage, we must extend it anyway because it is a human right. “We must insist that rights cannot be dismissed out of short-term interests of logistics and political pragmatism,” he says in the essay, adding in a followup blog post that “logistics are never sufficient reason to deny human rights.”

All three of those arguments strike me as wrongheaded.

I suspect that there are still strategic reasons for gay-marriage advocates to refrain from pushing for plural marriage; there are numerous rational arguments against state endorsement of group marriages; and having a polygamous marriage recognized and incentivized by the state is not a human right.

The law should, I think, allow groups of people to sleep in the same house, engage in group sex, and enter into contracts or religious arrangements of their liking. If a polyamorous family lived next door to me, I’d welcome them to the neighborhood and champion treating them with love and respect. But I think it would be imprudent to include their arrangement in civil marriage, with its incentivizing benefits, because if group marriage were to become normalized and spread beyond a tiny fringe the consequences for society could be significant and negative.

The Politics of Gay Marriage

Gay marriage remains illegal in Australia, most of Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and parts of Europe and Mexico; the most liberal of those countries strike me as the most natural places for “the next advance” of marriage. I’d urge my fellow gay-marriage proponents to focus their efforts there––and legalizing group marriage in America right now would strengthen the hands of gay-marriage opponents abroad, confirming slippery-slope arguments that were raised and rejected here. If it ever made sense to avoid this fight as a matter of political strategy, it still does; if gay marriage was ever a more important priority than plural marriage, it remains so.

The Utilitarian Case Against Group Marriage

The strongest argument against state-sanctioned group marriage is how poorly it has worked out for women and low-status men in most times and places it has been tried.

Jonathan Rauch puts it succinctly :

There's an extensive literature on polygamy. Here’s a 2012 study, for example, that discovered “significantly higher levels of rape, kidnapping, murder, assault, robbery and fraud in polygynous cultures.” According to the research, “monogamy's main cultural evolutionary advantage over polygyny is the more egalitarian distribution of women, which reduces male competition and social problems.” ...monogamous marriage “results in significant improvements in child welfare, including lower rates of neglect, abuse, accidental death, homicide and intra-household conflict.” And: “by shifting male efforts from seeking wives to paternal investment, institutionalized monogamy increases long-term planning, economic productivity, savings and child investment.”

De Boer responds that “basic social science tells us that the very illegality and taboo that I’m trying to get rid of distorts the empirical picture. When a practice is illegal and taboo, that practice will necessarily be undertaken by people who tend towards extremist or outsider lifestyles. The fact that in America we associate polygamy with radical religious types is a function of that illegality and that taboo.”

But plural marriage is associated with those negative outcomes even in cultures where it is or was neither taboo nor illegal. Says De Boer, “The truth is that we don’t know what a wealthy Western society like America would look like with polygamous marriage because conservatism has prevented that society from existing.” He is right that we cannot be sure what the United States would look like if polygamy were legalized tomorrow, and perhaps America would be exceptional. It is also possible that the vast majority of plural marriages would occur within fundamentalist religious groups, as happened in the past; and that those plural marriages would be as coercive and destabilizing as has typically been true.

Either way, it is incomplete at best to assert that it is impossible to know what a polygamous society would look like “because conservatism has prevented that society from existing.” There are strong conservative arguments for risk-aversion and against experimenting with legalized group marriage, but there are equally strong technocratic, feminist, and progressive arguments against incentivizing polygamous marriage. If plural marriage is recognized by the state and practiced mostly in Berkeley and Williamsburg, those left-leaning arguments may well go unarticulated. I expect that they’ll be made forcefully, though, if the result of normalized plural marriage is, for example, a spike in the number of middle-aged religious conservatives who coerce their first wives into letting them marry teenagers summoned from fundamentalist Mormon sects or polygamous tribal societies abroad.

Numbers are the next-strongest argument against plural marriage. Here’s Rauch again:

...when a high-status man takes two wives (and one man taking many wives, or polygyny, is almost invariably the real-world pattern), a lower-status man gets no wife. If the high-status man takes three wives, two lower-status men get no wives... This competitive, zero-sum dynamic sets off a competition among high-status men to hoard marriage opportunities, which leaves lower-status men out in the cold. Those men, denied access to life's most stabilizing and civilizing institution, are unfairly disadvantaged and often turn to behaviors like crime and violence. The situation is not good for women, either, because it places them in competition with other wives and can reduce them all to satellites of the man.

Where plural marriage exists in America, this is already happening. As The New York Times reported in 2007, “ Over the last six years, hundreds of teenage boys have been expelled or felt compelled to leave the polygamous settlement that straddles Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. Disobedience is usually the reason given for expulsion, but former sect members and state legal officials say the exodus of males—the expulsion of girls is rarer—also remedies a huge imbalance in the marriage market. Members of the sect believe that to reach eternal salvation, men are supposed to have at least three wives.”

On his blog, De Boer responds to concerns about gender imbalance in the marriage market. My responses follow:

1. We already have lots of sad horny angry dudes.

That is not an argument recommending a policy that might create orders of magnitude more.

2. Government has no business trying to regulate the sexual or romantic “marketplace” so that men feel like they have an adequate number of partners to choose from. Society has no legitimate interest in ensuring that you feel like you have a good chance of getting laid.

Getting laid, which does not require marriage, is beside the point. And the point isn’t to ensure that men “feel like” they have an adequate number of partners to choose from––it is to ensure that both genders do have at least some realistic opportunity to participate in the institution of marriage, the same cause that drove so many impassioned proponents of gay marriage to broaden the institution. I’d further argue that the government does have an interest in regulating the sexual marketplace in this sense: Nature has given humanity a world with roughly equal numbers of men and women, a highly beneficial reality, and if that parity were threatened by large numbers of parents choosing the gender of their children, the government would, I think, have an interest in outlawing that practice to avoid the terrible consequences that could result from a significant imbalance.

3. Traditional marriage has traditionally invested men with superior power, too.

In practice, the power imbalance in polygamous unions has arguably been both greater and more resistant to egalitarian trends. And in any marriage that grows beyond two people, a new problem presents itself: the possibility of a majority ganging up on a minority.

4. That polygamy often functions to have one man who dominates the household and lots of subservient wives is a function of patriarchy. It’s our duty to destroy patriarchy. If we undertake that effort, the benefits will accrue to traditional marriage, to polygamous marriage, and to the unmarried.

By this logic, why not destroy patriarchy and then, only once you’ve succeeded, recognize group marriage?

5. That the idea of one wife with many husbands is just assumed away is itself reflective of ingrained sexism.

Ingrained sexism exists and will shape how polygamy plays out if it spreads! And even apart from ingrained sexism, men may turn out to be more averse to sharing a wife with other men than women are to sharing a husband with other women.

6. The notion that polygamy will necessarily and perpetually default to one husband, many wives because of inequality in social and economic capital between men and women seems to me to be a matter of declaring defeat in the battle against sexism.

Even if longstanding patterns reversed and women began to take multiple men as spouses in much higher numbers than the reverse, there would still be a category of losers––low status women, in this case––who would be denied the opportunity to marry by the inegalitarian structure of polygamous society.

7. While a huge amount of work remains to be done, we’ve seen remarkable progress in closing the gap in social and economic capital between men and women in recent decades. There are a lot of relationships out there, right now, where the woman is the partner with more social capital, more education, a better income, and better prospects. It’s one of the most obvious changes in educated, elite society. Under those conditions, I can easily imagine one wife taking multiple husbands. And while we should never presume progress, I think we have a clear duty to spread that changing condition in the relative social and economic value of men and women throughout society. If we do, you’ll find this problem goes away.

Among highly educated, high-income Americans in polyamorous relationships––not marriages, just relationships––a woman taking on multiple boyfriends is still, as best I can tell, the least common arrangement. There is every reason to think that the pattern would hold if polygamous marriages became common in secular society.

Apart from any of these other objections, polygamist unions seem likely to prove less stable than two-person unions, which aren’t particularly stable themselves these days. If each individual in a polygamous union is no more or less likely to seek a divorce than a person in a monogamous union, the failure rate would still be at least a third higher, assuming a three-person grouping, and higher still for larger plural marriages. That isn’t sufficient reason to punish people for attempting polyamorous unions, but seems like a good reason to avoid encouraging them.

The option of plural marriage might also destabilize some two-person unions, with one spouse regarding the existing arrangement as “till death do us part,” only to be confronted with a spouse who, while averse to divorce, is pushing for a new member of the marriage. “Either she joins us,” a husband might say, “or I’m out.” It’s hard to say if changing norms would make that scenario more likely than it is now.

Then there are the logistical problems that plural marriage presents, which would seem to require altering core features and benefits that presently make up civil marriage. Mary Anne Case, a law professor at the University of Chicago, has pointed out that the legal institution is largely concerned with the "designation, without elaborate contracting, of a single other person third parties can look to in a variety of legal contexts.” Three-, four-, or five-person unions would require abandoning that aspect of marriage.

Americans can presently marry a foreign citizen and bring them here, after jumping through bureaucratic hoops, eventually sponsoring them for U.S. citizenship. Would the advent of plural marriage require that this practice be ended? Or would group marriages include the right to confer unlimited citizenships?

When I got married I was eligible to add my wife to my employer-sponsored health insurance. In a world of plural marriage, would this benefit of the institution end, or could I add as many people as I liked to my employer’s insurance plan?

If the parties to a plural marriage disagree about a medical decision that needs to be made on behalf of an unconscious spouse, who would get to decide the matter? Who would receive the Social Security survivor benefits if the patient died? These logistical matters add real costs to recognizing plural marriages––and they lessen the simplifying benefits that marriage confers on society. They also suggest that expanding the definition of civil marriage to encompass more than two parties is a far more radical, fundamental change than was recognizing unions of same-sex couples.

Plural Marriage Is Not a Human Right

Is the state denying a human right when it declines to recognize polygamous marriages? De Boer answers affirmatively, but does not explain what makes something a human right that must be recognized irrespective of its consequences. I could surmise a rationale if someone put life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness––or food, shelter, and medicine––into a category called human rights.

I cannot surmise the rationale for putting “equal treatment for polygamous unions” in that category. If De Boer objected, as many libertarians do, to the state putting a thumb on the scale and incentivizing marriage with benefits that are denied to the unmarried, to business partners, to spouses, and to non-romantic friends, I’d grant the coherence of his complaint; but as best I can tell, he’s fine with unequal treatment for the married and unmarried so long as the married include polygamists.

The closest he comes to a rationale is arguing that “consenting adults who all knowingly and willfully decide to enter into a joint marriage contract, free of coercion, should be permitted to do so, according to basic principles of personal liberty,” adding “the preeminence of the principle of consent is a just and pragmatic way to approach adult relationships in a world of multivariate and complex human desires.”

I agree that consenting adults who decide to enter contracts while free of coercion should be permitted to do so, but I disagree that the state is obligated to call these contracts “marriages,” to extend to the parties all benefits of civil marriage, and to rewrite those attributes of civil marriage that are inseparable from two-person unions. In declining to do so, the state does not deny anyone equal protection under the law.

Conclusions

There could be benefits to recognizing polygamous relationships. Casey E. Faucon, a fellow at the University of Wisconsin Law School, asserts that there are 150,000 polygamists now living in the U.S., and that many second and third polygamous wives “are left without any legal recognition or protection,” a situation that might be remedied were they brought into some sort of regulatory framework. She claims to have a set of regulatory rules that “ensure consent, prevent unequal bargaining power between the parties, and protect individual rights, all while addressing and respecting the religious beliefs that lead polygamists into these otherwise taboo marital arrangements.” Perhaps some formal recognition short of marriage would be salutary.

But the assertion that “the case against polygamy is incredibly flimsy, almost entirely lacking in rational basis and animated by purely irrational fears and prejudice” could not be more wrong. Adherents of that position are blind to the many rational, good-faith concerns about the normalization of polygamous unions, and deaf to the conservative logic behind special benefits for unions between a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. There are empirical, cultural, and pragmatic reasons to incentivize civil marriages of that sort.

And if civil marriage’s benefits are extended to a practice as historically and potentially destabilizing as polygamous marriage, it will undermine the conservative case for conserving civil marriage and strengthen the libertarian case that the state should get out of the business of incentivizing any particular relationship structure.

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7 Contemporary debates

Published: February 2022
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‘Contemporary debates’ opens with a government raid on the residents of the Arizona town of Short Creek in 1953. They were practicing polygamy as members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an organization that had separated from the Mormon Church over their continued devotion to polygamy. In many such situations, the revival of so-called traditional polygamy has been connected with religious fundamentalism and limits on women’s public participation, as is also the case among some Muslims in Saudi Arabia. Yet there have also been “campaigns for monogamy” among Muslims in places like Malaysia. At the same time, there has been pressure on monogamy from US left-wing critics, who question married monogamy as the correct or only path for domestic organization. There is a liberal, even libertarian, celebration of “poly,” especially polyamory, in Western liberal democracies.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Interpersonal Relationship — Polygamy

Essays on Polygamy

The importance of writing an essay on polygamy.

Writing an essay on polygamy is important for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for a deeper understanding of the practice and its cultural, religious, and historical significance. Polygamy has been a controversial topic for centuries, and by writing an essay on it, one can contribute to the ongoing discourse and shed light on its complexities. Additionally, writing about polygamy provides an opportunity to explore the ethical and legal implications of the practice, and to consider its impact on individuals and societies.

When writing an essay on polygamy, it is important to approach the topic with sensitivity and an open mind. It is crucial to consider diverse perspectives and to avoid making assumptions or passing judgment. Researching the history and cultural context of polygamy is essential, as is consulting a variety of sources to gain a well-rounded understanding of the topic. In addition, it is important to critically analyze the information and to present a balanced argument in the essay.

Furthermore, when writing about polygamy, it is important to consider the implications of the practice on gender equality, individual rights, and family dynamics. Addressing the ethical and legal aspects of polygamy is also important, as is discussing the potential impact on mental and emotional well-being. By thoroughly examining these aspects, one can provide a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the topic.

Writing an essay on polygamy is important for gaining a deeper understanding of the practice, its cultural and historical significance, and its ethical and legal implications. By approaching the topic with sensitivity, conducting thorough research, and considering diverse perspectives, one can contribute to the ongoing discourse on polygamy and promote a more nuanced understanding of the practice.

The history and cultural significance of polygamy in various societies Polygamy has a long history and has been practiced in various cultures around the world. In this essay, we will explore the cultural significance of polygamy in different societies, and how it has evolved over time.

The legal and ethical implications of polygamy Polygamy is a controversial practice that raises many legal and ethical questions. In this essay, we will discuss the legal and ethical implications of polygamy, including its impact on family law, human rights, and gender equality.

The impact of polygamy on women and children Polygamy can have a significant impact on the well-being of women and children in polygamous households. In this essay, we will explore the impact of polygamy on women's rights, mental health, and economic stability, as well as its effects on the development and well-being of children.

The role of religion in the practice of polygamy Religious beliefs and traditions often play a significant role in the practice of polygamy. In this essay, we will examine the role of religion in the practice of polygamy, including how different religious groups interpret and justify the practice.

The psychological and emotional dynamics of polygamous relationships Polygamous relationships can be complex and fraught with emotional and psychological challenges. In this essay, we will explore the psychological and emotional dynamics of polygamous relationships, including issues of jealousy, competition, and intimacy.

The economic implications of polygamy Polygamous households may face unique economic challenges and opportunities. In this essay, we will discuss the economic implications of polygamy, including the division of labor, financial resources, and inheritance rights.

The impact of polygamy on community and social structures Polygamy can have a significant impact on community and social structures. In this essay, we will explore how polygamy affects social dynamics, community cohesion, and gender roles within a society.

The portrayal of polygamy in popular culture and media Polygamy is often portrayed in popular culture and media, but these representations may not always accurately reflect the realities of polygamous relationships. In this essay, we will analyze the portrayal of polygamy in popular culture and media, and how it influences public perceptions of the practice.

The potential benefits and drawbacks of legalizing polygamy The legalization of polygamy is a contentious issue, with proponents and opponents arguing for its potential benefits and drawbacks. In this essay, we will explore the arguments for and against legalizing polygamy, and the potential implications for society.

The future of polygamy in a modern world As society continues to evolve, the practice of polygamy may also undergo changes. In this essay, we will speculate on the future of polygamy in a modern world, and how it may adapt to changing social, cultural, and legal norms.

Negative Outcomes of Polygamy in a Society

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Polygamy and Its Effects on Family and Children

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An Analysis of The Mormon Religion and The Practice of Polygamy

The reasons why young people are turning into polygamy, banning polygamy in the united states, exploring polygamy: its history, practices, and controversies, relevant topics.

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Interpersonal Relationship / Polygamy

Polygamy Essay Examples

Discussion on whether polygamy should be legalized in the usa.

Polygamy is the exercise of having multiple spouses at one time, and it is a lifestyle choice that is more common in the United States than most would expect. In America there are between 30,000 and 50,000 Mormon polygamists, and between 500,000 and 10 million...

Minuses of Polygamous Lifestyles

Many people believe that you are meant to be with one person for the rest of your life, That’s the commitment you make when you marry someone, or at least that’s what it’s supposed to mean. Some people believe that you have the right or...

A Report on Polygamy in Canada

Marriage is a very important social institution because life arises from it. Consequently, the government of Canada has a keen interest in protecting marriages to ensure stable population growth and sustainability. Canada has been largely a monogamous nation until immigrants started flocking in from other...

Discussion on Whether Polygamy is a Viable Alternative Lifestyle Compared to Monogamous Relationship

The practice of polygamy has endangered women and children for years. Neglect and unfair treatment is a large issue within polygamous communities and relationships. According to Fay Voshell, in a plural marriage revokes a woman’s rights and can even become dangerous. Voshell explains that polygamy...

Polygamy and Its Implications in Modern Age

Polygamous marriage is always a sensitive topic that often being portrayed as an outdated practice and should be abolished as the world progresses. The numerous cases of unsuccessful polygamous marriage, such as abusive and controlling partner has painted a negative image on polygamy. Due to...

Polygamy is a Negative Practice with Many Problems

The practice of marrying to a spouse after another is called polygamy. Polygyny, together with polyandry, are the kinds of polygamous practices. Polygamy’s permissibility in 50 out of almost 200 dominant states are legalized, Though many other dominant states of the world do not recognize...

Polygamy, Its Benefits and Controversies

Recently, I have watched a documentary about whether polygamy can be a solution for single parenthood, and singles in general, or not. So, it caught my attention and made me curious to know more. For me, one thing was certain: in all societies, polygamy is...

The Problems Caused by Polygamy

Polygamy is a social phenomenon that has existed for thousands of years in cultures around the world. It was born of 'necessity' or a show of wealth. It made sense for one man to mate with many women in order to have many children. That...

Polygamy and Its Negative Effects on Women and Children

Polygamy has been around for as long as we have known. Its origins can not be traced back to a specific point in time but it is shown in the bible that polygamy was practiced by the Ancient Hebrews. A study conducted by Anthropologist Berkowitz...

Why Polygamy Should Be Made Legal

Most believe that those who are polyamorous are but simple cheaters trying to seem innocent, though this is only a baseless accusation that uses a false stereotype to prove a bad point. All around the world a debate over polygamy is taking place getting increased...

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